A woman touches the face of a humanoid robot during the launch of the U1 humanoid robot produced by UWORLD, a brand under UBTECH Robotics, in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on June 30, 2026. Silicone skin, soothing voice: Chinese company UBTech unveiled unprecedented hyper-realistic human-looking androids equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and presented as anti-loneliness remedies
Their metallic frames covered in supple, lifelike skin, a posse of new Chinese robots meant for companionship can offer users AI-generated conversation or a hand to hold, complete with manicured nails.
The company UBTech says its "U1" robot -- equipped with eye cameras, chest sensors, and listening microphones -- is the world's first full-sized, ultra-realistic humanoid designed for mass production.
Touted as an antidote to loneliness, the robots are priced at 119,800 yuan ($17,600) for the most basic type and 990,000 yuan (R2 393 676) for an "Ultra" version with more advanced features.
"Our bionic robots can accompany you for a lifetime," Michael Tam, head of UBTech's brand UWorld, said Tuesday at a launch event in the southern Chinese tech hub Shenzhen.
