In September 2022, a shocking headline captured people’s attention : a female AI-powered Robot named CEO of a Chinese firm. The firm in question is Netdragon Websoft, a company specialized in online gaming and mobile applications. Seems like straight out of a science fiction movie, right ?
Ms. Tang Yu, virtual CEO
Ms. Tang Yu is in fact the first robot possessing an executive position. She was appointed computer generated CEO for the company’s subordinate company, Fujian NetDragon Websoft. Ms. Tang Yu is technically not a robot, but a 3D character that is part of a group of rotating CEOS : according to the company, she “serves as a real-time data hub and analytical tool to support rational decision-making in daily operations, as well as to enable a more effective risk management system”. Concretely, she lists tasks, signs documents, approves decisions – all without a salary.
According to a press release from Netdragon Websoft, “the appointment [of Ms. Tang Yu] is a move to pioneer the use of AI to transform corporate management and leapfrog operational efficiency to a new level”. Additionally, the company’s chairman Dejian Liu stated that “we believe AI is the future of corporate management, and our appointment of Ms. Tang Yu represents our commitment to truly embrace the use of AI to transform the way we operate our business”. The chairman also added that they will “continue to expand on [their] algorithms behind Tang Yu to build an open, interactive and highly transparent management model as [they] gradually transform to a metaverse-based working community”.
Ms. Tang Yu, a look into the future
The appointment of Ms. Tang Yu as CEO of Fujian NetDragon allows us to see a glimpse of the future : robots went from having specialized repetitive tasks to now being able to be CEOs. We are experiencing a world in which artificial intelligence replaces human jobs, including those we would have “never thought” were replaceable by robots.
Christiane CHIOTIS
M2 Cyberjustice – Promotion 2022/2023
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