A leading Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a lifelike humanoid robot designed to serve as a close companion for single and elderly people.
Shenzhen-based UBTech said its U1 robot is the world’s first hyper-realistic humanoid that is ready for mass production.
The robot features emotional artificial intelligence and camera-equipped eyes that can tell if its owner is stressed or tired.
It comes in male and female versions, though UBTech said it is not designed to offer intimate relations “for now”.
Costing between 119,800 yuan (£13,200) and 990,000 yuan (£109,000), the U1 is primarily aimed at tackling loneliness rather than performing housework, cooking or other domestic tasks.
“Our bionic robots can accompany you for a lifetime,” Michael Tam, head of UBTech’s brand UWorld, said at a launch event.
“It will never betray you, will always be loyal to you, and will love you unconditionally.”
Last year, UBTech unveiled a robot which it claimed was the world’s first humanoid capable of running on its own and swapping its batteries when needed.
The Walker S2 robot is able to work “24/7” by monitoring its power levels and replacing its battery when necessary, without any human intervention.
UBTech’s latest U1 robot already has more than 13,000 pre-orders, according to the company, designed to serve the “colossal market” of single and elderly people in China.
The world’s second-most populous country has prioritised humanoid robots as one of the top 10 strategic industries for economic growth between 2026 and 2030.
As part of China’s latest Five-Year Plan, robots will be increasingly used as general-purpose devices rather than highly-specialised machines.
“Under the new framework, China is shifting its focus from traditional industrial automation to high-end, intelligence robotics integrated with artificial intelligence,” said International Federation of Robotics President Takayuki Ito.
China is expected to deploy 11 million humanoid robots by 2035, according to forecasts from Barclays, though separate analysis from Morgan Stanley found that only 12,000 humanoids were sold in the country last year.
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