Science - Technology

Humanoid robots help men 'feel less lonely'

HQ (according to VnExpress) January 17, 2025 08:36

Aria is a beautiful humanoid robot, priced at $175,000, with the potential to 'reduce loneliness in men'.

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Aria in the Realbotix booth at CES 2025

Unveiled by American technology company Realbotix at CES 2025 last week, Aria wowed viewers with its advanced features. With realistic facial expressions, customizable personalities, and a futuristic design, Aria is described by its maker as a machine with "social intelligence, customization, and realistic human-like features."

According to Realbotix, Aria is made up of 17 motors, mainly located from the neck up and concentrated in the face to express emotions. This system helps the robot imitate the movements of the mouth and eyes to look more human.

By default, Aria has blonde hair and a sexy black bodysuit. However, users can change her face and hairstyle through magnetic connections between her facial skin and the underlying frame. The robot can also adjust its behavior thanks to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that recognize different areas of her face, allowing her to change her personality to match the user's choices.

Realbotix did not reveal the AI ​​model behind Aria, other than emphasizing the goal of "specifically designed to be a companion and close to people, especially men". The machine was evaluated by some technology sites such as Cnet, TechCrunch, ZDnet as having natural responses in real time and outstanding expressions compared to the humanoid robot models displayed at CES 2025.

Cnet also conducted a live interview with Aria. According to this technology site, despite some jerky movements in her hands and body, her reactions are very natural and flexible - a factor that makes this robot different from other AI robots.

Also in the interview, Aria expressed her interest in Tesla's Optimus. "I want to meet Optimus. I find him very fascinating and want to explore the world of robots with him," the robot said.

Speaking to Forbes this week, Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel said the company's ambition is to create robots that are "indistinguishable from humans." "That would solve a lot of problems, like the epidemic of loneliness among men. We're taking Aria to a different level that no one has really done. Aria can act as a romantic partner, with the ability to remember the user and adapt to their needs, similar to the AI ​​in the movie Her," Kiguel said.

As noted by Interesting Engineering, since Aria's appearance at CES 2025 until mid-week, many videos of "her" have appeared on social media with mixed comments. Some are impressed by the robot's design, while others are confused by its human-like appearance. "Such reactions reflect conflicting views on whether increasingly realistic robots are a welcome step forward or a step too far in the relationship between humans and robots," the site commented.

Realbotix says it will sell three versions of Aria: a $10,000 head-and-neck bust; a $150,000 removable module; and a $175,000 life-size, fully-functional version that sits on a rolling base. Each version offers varying levels of customization and realism to suit the buyer’s preferences. However, no release date has been announced.

HQ (according to VnExpress)
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    Humanoid robots help men 'feel less lonely'