East Asia
The U1 robot can hold conversations and even be customised to resemble loved ones or celebrities. UBTech is targeting single people and those aged over 60, positioning the lifelike android as a companion to help combat loneliness.
CEO of UWORLD Michael Tam (second from left) presents a humanoid robot to a visitor during the launch of the U1 humanoid robot produced by UWORLD, a brand under UBTECH Robotics, in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on Jun 30, 2026. (Photo: AFP/Adek Berry)
03 Jul 2026 01:59PM
SHENZHEN: 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 (US$17,600) for the most basic type and 990,000 yuan 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 on Tuesday (Jun 30) at a launch event in the southern Chinese tech hub Shenzhen.
