To begin with, NAO could do just one thing: dance. It was charming, but frustrating. Soon, an idea took hold:

• What if NAO could become more than just a dancer? An interactive companion, capable of holding a conversation and telling stories.

The challenge was immense. Everything had to be coded in Python 2, a language that is now obsolete. And the robot’s technical limitations – microphones, cameras, overheating – made the venture even more complex.

After weeks of perseverance, on 16 September 2025, during the opening ceremony of the aivancity Paris–Villejuif campus, NAO finally spoke to the visitors. It was a moment that seemed to stand still: the robot captivated the audience, which included Yasmine Camara, Vice-President of the Île-de-France Region, and several professors such as Frédéric Anscombre and Jiani Wei, who warmly congratulated us.

But beyond the technical success, my greatest source of pride was living up to the expectations of our president, Tawhid Chtioui, and my tutors Fabien Carlier and Nasreddine Menacer, whilst sharing a unique human journey with my team

This internship showed me just how much AI can transform robotics and make human-machine interactions more natural and exciting. Thanks to what I learnt at aivancity, I’ve been immersed in a world where technological innovation goes hand in hand with human creativity.

And this is just the beginning: I can’t wait to discover the new horizons that artificial intelligence will invite me to explore.