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Cairo airport security detains robot

Egyptian security forces detained robot artist Ai-Da, upon arriving at Cairo airport for 10 days, before the British embassy intervened to resolve the issue and ensure their release.

Sima Diab/Getty Images
Aidan Meller, creator of Ai-Da, poses with the humanoid AI robot artist on display at the Great Pyramids of Egypt on Oct. 23, 2021, in Cairo, Egypt. — Sima Diab/Getty Images

CAIRO — Egyptian security forces released a British-made robot and her creator after they were detained at customs for 10 days and investigated for possible espionage.

The ultra-realistic robot artist, named Ai-Da, was scheduled to hold her first exhibition at the foot of the pyramids in Cairo on Oct. 22. She arrived in Egypt on Oct. 10 and detained until Oct. 20, two days before the exhibit opened.

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