UBTECH Launches UWORLD U1, the World's First Full-Size Mass-Produced Ultra-Bionic Humanoid Robot

My take: This one gave me a strange mix of amazement and curiosity, and I am going to tell you exactly how it hits. UBTECH, a Chinese robotics company, just unveiled the UWORLD U1 at its Global Launch Event in Shenzhen: the world's first full-size mass-produced ultra-bionic humanoid robot, available to the public starting at 119,800 yuan (about $16,500). Three models: Lite (semi-torso), Pro (full-body), and Ultra (high-dynamic). They already surpassed 13,361 pre-orders on launch day. To put it in perspective: four years ago humanoid robots were lab demos you applauded at a conference, and today you can order one like specialized equipment 😳. Technically, the U1 has 88 degrees of freedom and a biomimetic cervical spine that replicates 90% of fundamental human movements. What raises the most questions for me, and it has to be said, is the plan to donate 100 units programmed with the identity of real people to offer 'psychological support': an AI companion with the face and voice of a specific person is territory we have not fully thought through yet. But here is today's hard fact: while the US debates who regulates robots, China is already shipping them to your door. That says everything about the moment we are in.