China's UBTech launches AI-powered lifelike companion robots

China's humanoid robot launch fuels buzz over AI "cyber partners", with prices reaching $145,835

Chinese robotics firm UBTech  has unveiled a new line of ultra-realistic humanoid robots it says are ​designed for companionship and emotional support, powered by ‌an AI system capable of recognising and responding to a wide range of human emotions.

The launch on Tuesday has sparked discussion ​on Chinese social media about the potential rise ​of AI-powered "cyber boyfriends" and "cyber girlfriends". The robots are ⁠available in both male and female versions, with ​top-end models priced at up to 990,000 yuan ($145,835)

The U1 product line ranges from robotic torsos priced at 119,800 yuan to full-sized humanoid companions featuring highly realistic details such as visible pores, blood vessels and fingerprints.

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The robots are equipped with an emotional large language model UBTech said in a statement was designed for long-term ⁠companionship. It said the system can identify more than 20 human emotions with an accuracy rate exceeding 90%.

 The humanoids feature expressive faces and lifelike digital skin intended to enhance human-robot interaction.

 UBTech said ⁠it has received 13,361 orders for the U1 series and aims to complete deliveries within this year.

 The company expects China's market for ⁠ultra-realistic humanoid robots to expand dramatically over the next decade. The industry "will grow from tens of billions of yuan ⁠to trillions of yuan between 2026 and 2036," Tan Min, UBTech's chief branding officer, said.