Sophia isn't even an AI.
It isn't even a good expert system.
It is a piece of crap.
And the pre-canned dialog makes me sick.
I have seen better 10 years ago.
So, why indeed is this thing being trotted out?
It cannot be that Hanson Robotics is just that good at PR, someone is pushing an agenda. And, although your thoughts could be correct, they do not sound like they are hitting the root.