https://j.people.com.cn/n3/2025/0730/c95952-20346805.html

“Xueba 01”, a humanoid robot developed by Shanghai Zhuo Yide Robot Co., has been accepted as a freshman  for a 4 years PhD program in the  Shanghai Theatre Academy, which designed his training program in collaboration with Shanghai University for Science and Technology, integrating generative AI into theatrical arts creation and embodied AI into the development of specific professional skills. Based on a curriculum that combines research and  technical and creative practice, Xueba 01, together with the human students, will study in-depth specialized subjects such as dramatization, acting and directing, scriptwriting, and stage design.

Among the different study modules, the modules include perception and cognition modeling, language generation and interaction, and embodied control and movement expression. The artistic modules include stage character creation, artistic style imitation, emotional expression, and storytelling. The systems modules include cross-modal data fusion, creative generation mechanisms, social interaction, and ethical modeling. The task modules include doctoral challenges, staged results presentations, and results evaluation in the form of an ‘oral examination.

Photo: The makeup and costume image design for “Xueba 01” was created by a faculty and student team from the Department of Costume and Makeup in the School of Performing Arts, led by the student’s supervisor, Professor Yang Qingqing. (Photo by Jia Qi)