Video: Merritt Moore Brings Together Art And Algorithm At NDTV World Summit

Ever witnessed code meet creativity? It has come true at the NDTV World Summit 2025 as Dr Merritt Moore blends quantum physics with ballet. Dr Moore is a scientist who splits her time between physics labs and ballet studios, proving science and art can coexist and thrive.

Talking about the blend of two worlds, Dr Moore confessed that she always "tries to do one" and has been trying to "retire from ballet" for the past few years.

"I cannot retire; it is my oxygen. I found that when I stopped dancing, my grades would go down. I realised that as humans, it should be possible to hope and dream and to actively explore the technology and the artistic side of our brain," said Dr Moore.

When asked if there are days when the robot does not want to listen to her, Moore recalled last night's incident and added, "It is now behaving. It had stage fright."

Further talking about her inspiration, Moore said, "After my PhD, I was dancing, but the pandemic hit, and I couldn't dance with humans. Dance is a form of communication, and we need other humans to express ourselves, and because I didn't have that in isolation, I thought, well, robots don't get COVID. Maybe I will start programming a robot. And from 7am to midnight, I would stay in a deserted feeder all day long, just programming the robot, and it became this bizarre companion... It hung out with me more than any human."

Dr Moore said that some of her most special and personal performances are with the robot, because she gets to explore her own memories and have conversations with people who may have passed away.

"It would be very hard to explore that with another human. I see you. I feel you. I am dancing with you. It is hard to explore my personal memories, but with a robot, I can go there," she added.

Finding Balance Between Quantum Physics And Ballet

There have been times when Dr Moore wanted to give one up for the other but the realisation that she loses joy stopped her.

"If I just focus on dance, I miss that active aspect of my brain, thinking about quantum physics or robots and I need that to  thrive in dance studio. Similarly, when I am just thinking about physics, I need that outlet of dance to help me be more creative in the physics lab," she explained.

#NDTVWorldSummit | "Need the outlet of dance to be more creative in the lab when I am thinking about physics" : Dr Merritt Moore at the #NDTVWorldSummit2025 @VedikaS pic.twitter.com/bDWMS6K8go

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 17, 2025

Find Your Quirks, Says Dr Moore 

One should always try to "find those weird, quirky passions," suggested Dr Moore. Recalling the pushback she received when she began dancing with the robots, she added, "People would say that's weird. I think there is so much power in (keeping head down); I call it submarine mode. When one finds their passion, just explore no matter what people say. You never know where it might take you. And who cares when you are doing something you love." 

She further suggested women to take the time they need instead of giving to the pressure of showcasing brilliance overnight.

Dr Merritt Moore performing at NDTV World Summit 2025.

Entering The World Of Survival Of Most Creative

Talking about artificial intelligence (AI) and human creativity , Dr Moore said we are entering the world where earlier it used to be survival of the fittest. However, now it is going to be the survival of the most creative, she added.

"If one isn't stimulating their brain and thinking about how to use AI, robots and technology in a creative way, we will be replaced. Robots and AI can do all the boring and routine jobs," she added. 

Dancing With Robot At NDTV World Summit

For her performance with the robot at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Moore named the robot "Botney Spears".

At the NDTV World Summit 2025, Dr Moore performed with a robot she has coded herself, blending quantum physics with movement. The performance showcased the beauty of quantum-inspired movement. Watch it here.

#NDTVWorldSummit | She codes. She dances. She redefines creativity.

Dr Merritt Moore - quantum physicist and ballerina - performs a stunning human-robot duet at the #NDTVWorldSummit2025 pic.twitter.com/eSx346MGnT

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 17, 2025

Humans > Robot

In a rapid fire at the NDTV World Summit, when Dr Moore was asked to choose between humans and robot, she chose humans.

Picking between quantum physics and ballet was tough for Dr Moore. She chose a simple answer: "Whichever I am not doing is what I like more."

Emotions over logic, instinct over AI, coding over choreography and 3am experiments over 3 am ballet - Dr Moore made her choices clear.

"Robots can have more humanity," she said, and also wished to add "uniqueness" as one human element to her robot as "perfectionism is replacable, but uniqueness is irreplacable."

Dr Moore now dreams to perform in space.