The robot companion that has gone viral across the internet has already exceeded 10000 pre-sales.
A few days ago, Ubiquitous held its annual press conference and officially announced the “Ubiquitous U1 Series” super bionic humanoid robot. The men’s model is 1.83 meters tall, and the women’s model is 1.68 meters tall. They have a masculine and feminine appearance, can chat, remember interactions, and can also customize their appearance.
After reading the public information, Xiaolei’s biggest feeling is one: I’m quite envious, but my wallet doesn’t quite accept it.
(Source: Must Choose)
The half body version costs 119800 yuan, the full-size version costs 169800 yuan, and the Ultra version has skyrocketed to several hundred thousand or even nearly a million yuan. Many people roast that the price was enough to buy two suites in a small city. Rather than selling a toy, it was more like inviting a roommate home, and we had to see if our living room was worthy.
Alas, Xiaolei of the normal Moonlight clan can’t afford such things. It’s better to be more realistic. He can satisfy his cravings by brushing Tiktok and watching Kwai videos.
What was the result? This real companion robot has not been shipped yet, and bionic robots on short video platforms are already everywhere. Some sit stiffly in the live broadcast room, some blink slowly in uniform, some respond to bullet comments in a mechanical tone, and some directly label themselves as robot girlfriends, AI companions, or androids.
This is quite strange, what’s going on?
Real person playing robot has become a new track of Tiktok
Whether to say it or not, technology is really advanced now.
Let me give you a random example. Look at the streamlined posture of this’ robot ‘, as well as its twisting, facial expressions, and appearance
(Source: Tiktok)
Don’t say it, I have a friend who really likes it.
But after watching too much, the answer came out. These so-called biomimetic robots are actually real people wearing robot jackets and makeup to play the role of biomimetic humans. Their main focus is on a “mix of truth and falsehood” approach, without any technology, all about makeup and brute force.
You can even find a large number of “robot” makeup processes online, highlighting the integration of human and machine.
(Image source: Bilibili)
Actually, it’s not difficult to find flaws.
Although the anchor’s makeup and behavior have tried to move towards a mechanical feel, as long as you carefully observe the hand movements, standing posture, center of gravity, and eye changes, you can find that the real robot movements at the exhibition are significantly stiff, which is completely different from the smoothness of human movements.
At present, there are many anchors on this track in the market, and the big shot Sweet Giovanna is a representative of this type of content.
Her advantage lies in being similar enough. The expression cools down, the movements slow down, the head turns with a slight stutter, and the blinking deliberately suppresses the rhythm, and the whole person enters a very subtle state. You said she’s a real robot, but she’s definitely not right; You say she’s just an ordinary real person, she’s not that ordinary.
(Source: Tiktok)
Even her most popular videos on Bilibili were taken by street cameras asking if she was real.
Considering the average level of netizens, if it weren’t for being able to find a girl’s makeup process, I guess 90% of the 500W fans would never understand what’s going on in their lifetime.
(Image source: Bilibili)
Of course, people may not really believe that she is a robot, but she still loves to ask. Because judging truth from falsehood is itself a part of the content. The audience stops, stares at their faces for three seconds, and then goes to the comment section to find answers, completing the traffic loop.
Similar anchors include KatK, the cat queen.
These two are typical beauty anchors, combining music, lighting, makeup, and cold expressions. If this future robot girlfriend can be made like this, cough cough cough.
(Source: Tiktok)
If there are streamers who specialize in this field, then naturally there are also a lot of makeup streamers who follow up on robot hot topics, and they are all quite eye-catching, it’s hard not to like them.
(Source: Tiktok)
Of course, there are also plenty of live streamers who specialize in organizing events.
Look at accounts like AI Shasha, they put robots into scenarios such as cooking, taking care of children, accompanying the elderly, and daily life. It may not seem so exciting, but it is easier for middle-aged and elderly users as well as family users to imagine that having a robot at home that is not tiring, not annoying, and can still accompany people seems to be useful.
(Source: Tiktok)
Although the host himself doesn’t look very much like a robot, and even this makeup looks quite scary, almost creating a uncanny valley effect for me, this form of content is quite popular.
It can only be said that the robot is just a shell, and the core is still a Tiktok story, but this time it was replaced with a science fiction package.
(Source: Tiktok)
There are even some anchors with a stronger short drama flavor.
They will capture scenes such as being taken home, unboxing, starting up for the first time, learning to do household chores, and emotionally connecting with their hosts. The plot is not complicated, even a bit outdated, but the advantage lies in the low threshold.
(Source: Tiktok)
Slowly turn your head, pause and blink, mechanically respond, occasionally saying ‘Master, I am studying’. If it were an ordinary person performing like this, it might be a bit awkward; But as long as the bionic robot setting is put on, the awkward taste becomes a cyber taste.
Perhaps this is the most magical aspect of short videos.
Actually, it’s not a new thing. Is Cai Ming the originator?
Actually, there’s no need to make a big fuss about the live action of robots.
In the 1996 Spring Festival Gala, Teacher Cai Ming played the role of a robot girlfriend in “Robot Fun Stories”. At that time, Teacher Guo Da bought a robot as a companion, and Teacher Cai Ming used facial expressions, movements, and tone to portray a robot that was sometimes gentle and sometimes uncontrollable, creating a particularly humorous atmosphere.
Looking at it today, this plot is even a bit ahead of its time.
(Source: CCTV)
However, robots back then were mostly fantasies on stage.
The audience knows that it was performed by humans, and the humor also comes from the contrast of “humans pretending to be robots”. Now, things have become subtle. Biomimetic skin, AI dialogue, humanoid robots, and live streaming filters are advancing together. When real people play robots again, it is not just a sketch effect, but also has the capital to distinguish between real and fake.
As for the reason for the large number of robot anchors appearing now, it is actually not complicated.
On the one hand, the anchor will definitely follow the trend. Short video platforms are most afraid of not having new things, and bionic robots happen to come with a few traffic words. As long as the girl looks good and her makeup is in place, she doesn’t have to explain too much. As long as she stands on the booth and slowly turns her head, the audience will start filming, guessing, and arguing on their own.
Singing and dancing require skill, and as long as the robot anchor does not break through, they have already won half, which is much more convenient than ordinary talent live streaming.
(Source: Tiktok)
On the other hand, robotics companies and technology exhibitions also need this kind of resource to sustain the scene.
Nowadays, many robots cannot achieve the natural communication seen in movies. The real machine stands on the booth, with slower movements, stiff expressions, and delayed responses, making the audience easily feel like “that’s all”. But if there are a few high-value robot anchors next to them, the imagination space of the entire booth is immediately stretched. The audience cannot distinguish which is a real machine and which is a real person, and instead may feel that this company’s technology seems to be very powerful.
Don’t take me for a joke, this matter is no longer considered trivial in the industry.
As early as the 2024 World Robot Conference, EX ROBOT had already invited @ Big Brother Sweet Giovanna and @ Cat Kui Katk to perform on the platform; Similar situations can also be seen at the JD Robot booth at this year’s AWE event. Even two days ago, Ubiquitous invited real people to play the role of bionic robots at the event.
(Source: Photo by Lei Technology)
You say it’s fake, it does look very similar; You say it’s true, but many interactions are clearly not right. In the end, everyone could only doubt while continuing to watch, and some even got involved, making the scene very chaotic.
It can only be said that what the general public likes is something that just looks good but doesn’t need to be worn.
The more mature the robot, the greater the demand for robot internet celebrities?
After checking around, Xiaolei could understand why they existed.
To put it simply, robot anchors are essentially a type of special actor. Previously, there were people playing emperors, aliens, and bosses, but now there are people playing bionic robots. The only difference is that this character happened to hit the hot topics of AI, humanoid robots, emotional companionship, and short video curiosity. In addition, these anchors are generally good-looking and their makeup is really thoughtful. The audience is willing to take a second look, but I don’t mind at all.
Some people may ask, after the release of the Ubiquitous U1, a truly biomimetic robot, did the robot internet celebrity send it?
Xiaolei thinks it won’t.
The reason is also very simple, real robots are still far from being able to completely replace human performances. The Ubiquitous U1 already looks impressive, with the ability to chat, interact, and customize its appearance. However, both entry-level versions only have the ability to move the head and neck. Even the most expensive version, it is difficult to say that it can move as smoothly as a real person in terms of actions, expressions, and on-site reactions.
In my opinion, the hotter this industry is, the greater the demand for robot internet celebrities.
Because the entire industry requires an ‘effect in the eyes of users and capital’. Real machines are responsible for proving technological progress, while human robots are responsible for projecting imagination. The audience not only sees the machine itself, but also what it may become in the future. At this point, a live streamer who can portray the essence of biomimetic popularity naturally holds significant value.
Screenshots of internal groups related to CEO Yu Hao have also been reported, which clearly mention the need to compete for the signing of robot anchors and resources. From the urgency of their words, it is not difficult to see their attention to this.
(Image source: Sina Weibo)
As for whether the companion type bionic robot can solve the love suppression of young people, Xiaolei thinks it’s also difficult.
It is definitely useful, a stable response, someone who won’t get annoyed with you, and someone who won’t suddenly disappear, can indeed provide emotional outlets for many people. Overseas young people are addicted to AI dating, while domestic young people are watching robot girlfriends, which essentially indicates that the cost of real relationships is increasing.
But no matter how effective painkillers are, they are difficult to replace life itself.
If people’s imagination of companionship must be fulfilled by cheaper and more human like robots, then the development of this world is somewhat sad.
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