Humanoid robots are no longer hidden somewhere in a research lab. Now, they are beginning to enter public spaces and are becoming surprisingly human.

A Shanghai startup has now taken this idea a step further, launching the world’s first biometric AI robot. Yes, this is as creepy as it sounds. The robot is called Moya, from DroidUp, also known as Zhuoyide. The company launched Moya at a launch event in Zhangjiang Robot Valley, a growing hot spot for humanoid robot development in China.

At first glance, you can still tell that Moya is a robot. The skin looks plasticky. My eyes feel empty. The action is slightly off. Then you learn more details about her, and that’s when the discomfort starts to set in.

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Warm skin makes this humanoid robot uneasy

Humanoid robots get smaller, safer and closer

Even when stationary, the robot’s posture and proportions blur the line between machine and human, which is unsettling for many people. (DroidUp)

Most robots feel cold and mechanical. Moya didn’t. According to DroidUp, Moya’s body temperature ranges from 90°F to 97°F, which is roughly the same range as humans. Company founder Li Qingdu said that robots that serve humans should give people a warm and approachable feeling. The idea sounds thoughtful until you imagine a humanoid with warm skin standing next to you in a quiet hallway. DroidUp says the design is geared towards future applications in healthcare, education and business environments. It also treats Moya as a daily companion. The idea may excite engineers. However, for many people, it triggers the opposite reaction. Warmth eliminates one of the few clear signals that distinguish machines from humans. Once this line becomes blurred, discomfort can quickly increase.

Why does this humanoid robot feel so uncomfortable walking?

Moya does not roll or slide. She walks. DroidUp says her walking movements are 92% accurate, but it’s unclear how that number was calculated. On screen, the action feels cautious and a bit stiff. It looks like someone is exercising carefully after a leg workout at the gym. The hardware underneath is doing the actual work. Moya runs on a Walker 3 skeleton, a newer system that will take home a bronze medal at the world’s first robotics half-marathon in Beijing in April 2025. Simply put, robots are becoming increasingly capable of moving through everyday spaces. Watching someone do this so convincingly feels weird and not impressive. It makes you stop, stare, and wonder why it feels so uncomfortable.

Camera eye and facial reactions raise privacy concerns

Moya has cameras behind his eyes. The cameras allow her to interact with people and react with subtle facial movements, often called microexpressions. Add to On-board artificial intelligence DroidUp now labels Moya as a fully bionic intelligent robot. This sentence sounds impressive. It also raises obvious questions. Trust becomes complicated when humanoid robots can see you, track your reactions and reflect emotional cues. You may forget that you are interacting with a machine. Your behavior may vary. This shift has had an impact on public space. This is artificial intelligence stepping off the screen and into physical proximity. Once that happens, the stakes change.

The price alone will keep this robot away from your home

If you’re worried about waking up to a warm-skinned humanoid in your home, relax for now. Moya is expected to launch in late 2026 and will cost approximately $173,000. That price puts her firmly in the institutional realm. DroidUp sees the robot working at train stations, banks, museums and shopping malls. Tasks include instruction, information, and public service interactions. This still unsettles many people, especially those whose jobs are already vulnerable to automation. For families, the future still looks more like robot vacuum cleaners than walking companions.

When viewed up close, Moya’s eyes look almost human-like, raising questions about how much realism is too much for a robot operating in public spaces. (DroidUp)

The world’s first artificial intelligence-powered industrial super humanoid robot

what does this mean to you

This is not about buying a humanoid robot tomorrow. It’s about where technology is going. Warm skin, camera eyes, and human-like movements mark a shift in design focus. Engineers want robots to be socially integrated. The more successful they are, the harder it is to maintain clear boundaries. When these machines enter public spaces, there are concerns about consent, monitoring Emotional manipulation ensues. Even if a robot is polite and helpful, its mere presence can change the way people behave. The creepy reaction is not unreasonable. They are early warning signs.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

moya debuts It feels worthy of attention because she’s real enough to induce discomfort almost immediately. This reaction is important. This suggests that people are being asked to get used to lifelike machines before they have time to question what this really means. Humanoid robots don’t need warm skin to help. They don’t need a face to point someone in the right direction. Still, companies continue to pursue realism, even if it makes people uneasy. In technology, where speed often precedes reflection, slowing down may be more important than running forward.

If a robot with warm skin and camera-like eyes said hello to you in public, would you trust it or would you avoid eye contact and walk faster? Please write to us Cyberguy.com.

Moya’s human appearance is intentional, from her warm skin to subtle facial details, meant to feel familiar rather than mechanical. (DroidUp)

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