Warm-Skinned Robot Moya Raises Unsettling Questions

Humanoid robots are rapidly advancing, with a Shanghai startup introducing Moya, the world's first biometric AI robot. Developed by DroidUp, Moya is designed to be disconcertingly lifelike. It possesses a body temperature ranging from 90°F to 97°F, intended to make it feel warm and approachable, a stark contrast to traditional mechanical robots. This feature, along with its ability to walk with reported 92% accuracy and display subtle facial movements, blurs the lines between humans and machines.

Moya is equipped with cameras and onboard AI, enabling it to interact and respond with microexpressions, earning it the label of a biomimetic embodied intelligent robot. While DroidUp envisions its use in healthcare, education, and commercial settings, its realism triggers unease. The robot's advanced capabilities raise concerns about trust, surveillance, and emotional manipulation in physical proximity.

Expected to launch in late 2026 at an estimated cost of $173,000, Moya is initially targeted for institutional use in public spaces like train stations and banks for guidance and information services. This high price point currently places it beyond typical consumer reach, suggesting home companionship is still a distant prospect. The development signifies a trend toward robots designed to socially integrate, prompting discussions on consent and the psychological impact of increasingly human-like machines.