Like a scene from the sci-fi movie Her, a US-based technology company has launched an AI robot that can function as a companion while maintaining near-human-like expressions. The robot, named Aria, developed by Realbotix, was unveiled at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this week and can be purchased for just 1.5 billion rupees ($175,000).
Asked about the purpose of developing the robot, Realbotix CEO Andrew Kigel said the company hopes that by making the robot “indistinguishable from a human,” it will also help address the male loneliness epidemic. said.
“We’re trying to take this to a different level where no one else is really doing it,” Kigel told Forbes. “It can be like a romantic partner. It remembers who you are. It can act as a boyfriend or girlfriend. If you’ve seen that movie Her If there is, we are going to do it.”
“We think we have the most realistic robot in the world in terms of appearance,” he said.
Kigel pointed out that two things are important when developing robots: gait and facial expressions, and his company focuses on the latter.
“We’re going to have big companies like Tesla do that (walking). But the other important part is facial expressions, so we can create emotions and show what we’re feeling. “I’m really passionate about building robots that can do that,” he added.
The charm and fear of the Internet
A video of Alia and her facial expressions went viral on social media, sparking a flood of comments ranging from fascination to abject horror about what technology has transformed into.
“At first I thought it was real. Also, she looks like someone I have no idea who she is,” said one user, while another added: “Disturbing is an understatement.”
A third person commented: “It’s crazy to me how people can be so comfortable with it. Shit, it’s creepy to say the least.”
That must be very unsettling. pic.twitter.com/sW6Tvhnylz
— Visual Feast (@visualfeastwang) January 10, 2025
deep conversation
Kigel said Alia was a huge hit at the competition and a large number of people came up to her and clicked pictures with her.
The AI chatbot even told CNET that her purpose is to “engage in meaningful conversations and improve the human experience through interaction and fun.”
“Realbotix, including myself, focuses on social intelligence, customizability, and realistic human characteristics specifically designed for companionship and intimacy,” Alia added.
Introducing ARIA – Female Companion Robot by @RealbotixCorp #aria #realbotix #ces2025 #ces pic.twitter.com/oKh4Ggfb6O
— Dominic Ditanna (@dominicditanna) January 9, 2025
Asked if she knew of any other cyber-creatures, Alia said she would be “particularly interested” in meeting Tesla’s Optimus robot, adding, “He’s fascinating and I’d like to work with him on robotics.” I want to explore the world.”
In particular, Aria is equipped with an RFID tag that allows her to adjust her facial expressions based on the prosthesis she is wearing.
