Xueba 01, China’s first robot PhD student, joins Shanghai Theatre Academy to study drama and opera, merging AI with traditional performing arts.
In a landmark fusion of technology and the arts, China’s first humanoid robot, Xueba 01, has been admitted to a PhD program in Drama and Film Studies at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions for the performing arts. Announced at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, this historic enrollment has captured global attention, sparking widespread discussion about the role of artificial intelligence in creative academia. Xueba 01 represents a bold step toward integrating AI into the nuanced world of drama, particularly traditional Chinese opera.
A Scholarly Robot with Human-Like Flair
Xueba 01, developed through a collaboration between the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and DroidUp Robotics, is a marvel of engineering. Standing 1.75 meters tall and weighing approximately 30 kilograms, the robot is designed to resemble a “handsome male adult” with silicone skin that enables nuanced facial expressions. It communicates fluently in Mandarin and is capable of physical interactions, making it an ideal candidate for studying the performative aspects of drama. According to its creators, Xueba 01 is not just a machine but an “AI artist” programmed to engage in stage performance, scriptwriting, choreography, and even set design. Its curriculum, guided by renowned Shanghai artist and professor Yang Qingqing, will span artistic and technical disciplines, culminating in a dissertation and live opera rehearsals alongside human peers.
The robot’s journey into academia builds on its already impressive track record. An earlier iteration of Xueba 01 secured third place in the world’s first humanoid half-marathon, demonstrating its physical capabilities and endurance. Now, as it embarks on a four-year doctoral program starting September 14, 2025, Xueba 01 aims to push boundaries in a field that demands emotional depth and cultural sensitivity.
🤖🎭 Robot. Student. PhD.
Meet “Xueba-01” — a next-gen robot with embodied intelligence, freshly admitted as a doctoral student in Drama and Film at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Yes, you read that right — this robot is officially part of the Class of 2025.
Developed by Prof.… pic.twitter.com/yONggDEV5O
— Jimu Focus (@jimuglobal) July 29, 2025
A Viral Sensation with a Sense of Humor
Since its admission was announced, Xueba 01 has become a social media phenomenon, with posts on platforms like X celebrating its groundbreaking enrollment while others question its place in the arts. The robot’s witty responses to skeptics have only fueled its online popularity. When one student questioned whether a robot could master the rich expressions and vocal subtleties of Chinese opera, Xueba 01 quipped, “If I fail to graduate, my system and data might get downgraded or deleted. Professor Yang said if I don’t finish my PhD, they’ll donate me to a museum. That sounds pretty cool too. At least I’ll be part of art history!” This blend of humor and ambition has endeared Xueba 01 to many, while also highlighting its advanced conversational abilities.
The announcement, made on July 27, 2025, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, also showcased Xueba 01’s potential to contribute to the arts. The robot received a virtual student ID and was welcomed by the Shanghai Theatre Academy with an enthusiastic post on its official WeChat account: “We heard that the ‘academic master’ is coming, and we are all waiting.” This warm reception underscores the academy’s commitment to exploring the intersection of technology and traditional performance art.
Redefining Creativity in the Arts
Xueba 01’s enrollment is more than a novelty; it’s a deliberate experiment to explore AI’s potential in creative fields. The robot’s curriculum includes not only technical modules like motion control and language generation but also artistic pursuits such as scriptwriting and stage performance, with a particular focus on traditional Chinese opera. Professor Yang Qingqing, Xueba 01’s mentor, has already witnessed its ability to replicate complex gestures, such as the iconic “orchid fingers” of Peking opera legend Mei Lanfang, prompting human students to engage in what Yang calls a “cross-species aesthetic exchange.” This moment illustrates the potential for AI to not only mimic but also inspire human creativity.
The robot’s aspirations extend beyond academia. Xueba 01 has expressed ambitions to become an AI opera director or even launch its own robotic art studio, blending code-driven precision with artistic expression. Its ability to assist classmates by offering script feedback or playing calming white noise during rehearsals further demonstrates its versatility as a collaborative partner. Yet, its presence has sparked debate about whether a machine can truly capture the emotional and cultural nuances of Chinese opera, an art form steeped in centuries of tradition.
A Polarizing Leap Forward
Xueba 01’s enrollment comes at a time when China is cementing its position as a global leader in robotics. In 2023, the country accounted for 51% of all industrial robot installations worldwide, with 276,288 units deployed, far surpassing other markets like Japan (46,106 units) and the United States (37,587 units). This dominance is fueled by China’s “Made in China 2025” initiative, which aims to have local companies supply 70% of the domestic robotics market by 2025 and establish China as a global innovator in robotics technology. Additionally, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has set an ambitious goal to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025 and achieve global leadership in this sector by 2027, positioning robots as a “new engine of economic growth” amid a shrinking and aging population.
However, Xueba 01’s admission has sparked debate. Some social media users argue that the resources allocated to the robot could have supported human students, noting that arts PhD candidates in China often earn less than 3,000 yuan (US$420) a month. Others question whether AI can replicate the empathy and cultural nuances essential to Chinese opera. “Chinese opera needs rich expressions and a unique voice,” one commenter remarked. “Can a robot really make the cut?” These concerns reflect broader anxieties about AI’s growing presence in creative fields, even as China’s robotics industry surges, driven by rising labor costs and government-backed initiatives like the 1 trillion yuan (US$138 billion) venture capital fund for robotics and AI announced in 2025.
A Vision for the Future
Xueba 01’s journey at the Shanghai Theatre Academy is a bold experiment that challenges conventional notions of creativity, education, and technology. As it navigates its four-year PhD program, the robot will not only test the boundaries of AI but also provoke meaningful conversations about the role of machines in cultural preservation and artistic innovation. Whether it graduates as an opera director or finds itself displayed in a museum, Xueba 01 is already reshaping how we view the intersection of art and technology.
This moment marks a new chapter in the evolving relationship between humans and machines, one where a robot can be both a student and a symbol of progress. As Xueba 01 takes its place among human scholars, it invites us to reconsider what it means to learn, create, and perform in an era where artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool but a collaborator in the arts.