Scholar 01, an AI robot developed in Shanghai, has been admitted as a PhD student at Shanghai Theatre Academy.
On July 27, at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, an advanced embodied AI robot named “Scholar 01” made history. Professor Li Qingdu’s team at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology developed Scholar 01 and secured its official admission to the PhD program at the Shanghai Theatre Academy PhD program. Scholar 01 is China’s first AI robot to enrol as a full-time doctoral student.
Moreover, Scholar 01 is an upgraded version of the Walker II robot, which once won third place at the world’s first half-marathon for humanoid robots in Beijing. The design combines technologies from Walker II and the Rena humanoid platform. Lightweight and energy-efficient, it features advanced tendon-based bionic movement. Zhuoyide Robotics, a tech company born from the university’s core research in robotics and embodied intelligence, produced it. Professor Yang Qingqing from Shanghai Theatre Academy designed its physical appearance and styling.
Professor Yang, also the robot’s academic supervisor, shared that Scholar 01 will follow a comprehensive learning path.
Its curriculum includes four main modules:
Basic Skills: Perception and cognitive modelling, language interaction, embodied movement and expression
Artistic Skills: Stage role-playing, artistic style simulation, emotional expression and storytelling
Systems Thinking: Cross-modal data integration, creative generation, social interaction and ethics
Doctoral Challenges: PhD-level research tasks, staged performance reports, and oral-style evaluations
In addition, Scholar 01 will study alongside other PhD students, engaging in both theory and practice. It will also join the “AI + Performing Arts” Key Laboratory and the Digital Performing Arts Innovation Lab.
This bold step marks a new chapter in integrating artificial intelligence with performing arts education in China — and perhaps the world.
Additional reporting by USST Official Website.
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