Dubioza Kolektiv, Robby Megabyte And The Irony Of Artificial Intelligence

JAKARTA - The title above is not wrong. The most popular rock band in Bosnia, Dubioza Kolektiv has indeed received a new member named Robby Megabyte. As per the title above, Robby is a humanoid robot who can sing and play music.

Roby is the work of students of the University of Sarajevo electrical engineering school, which was specially ordered and designed to fit the concept of Dubioza Kolektiv's #fakenews album released last year.

"Our robot likes to eat, drink, scream, he likes music," said Vedran Mujagic, the band's bass guitar player who was most involved in concept design for Robby.

In the video clip for the #fakenews album, one of the band members thought it would be nice to have a robot doing his job, while relaxing and having fun, so he ordered one and put it together.

Gradually the entire band was replaced by robots in the clip, allowing the guys to go out and party. But they are then locked outside their studio and the robots have a final laugh, inviting young women to dance and drink as the men look from outside.

“Every little thing is under machine control. Roby sang a song called 'Take My Job Away, "he added.

"The message about evil artificial intelligence taking jobs from good people is meant to be ironic," added Mujagic.

One of the students who helped make the robot used in the album, Almir Besic said the project was a challenge because initially they did not know anything about the 3D printing needed to make the robot and the lack of equipment needed.

They used recycled materials, including the (Volkswagen) Golf 2 axle shaft and baby trolley wheels, to create a platform on which Robby moved. It took them about two years to complete the project.

"When Robby finally came back to life it was a very happy moment, after so much effort, so much time spent working at the school to see if it worked," recalled Besic.

Dubioza Kolektiv's band is known for its eclectic musical style and lyrics that are socially and politically involved.

Robby took part in the band's weekly online show called 'The Quarantine Concert' during last year's lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.