Moya humanoid robot has warm skin and camera eyes that track movement
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Humanoid robots are no longer hiding somewhere in research labs. Nowadays, they enter public spaces and begin to seem dangerously human.
A Shanghai startup has taken this idea further by unveiling what it calls the world’s first biometric AI robot. Yes, it’s as scary as it sounds. The robot is called Moya and comes from DroidUp, also known as Zhuoyide. The company unveiled Moya at a launch event in Zhangjiang Robotics Valley, a growing hotspot for humanoid development in China.
At first glance, you can always tell that Moya is a robot. The skin appears plastic. The eyes seem empty. The movements are slightly offset. Then you learn more details about her, and that’s when the discomfort arises.
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Warm skin makes this humanoid robot unsettling
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Even when stationary, the robot’s posture and proportions blur the line between machine and person, in a way that many find unsettling. (DroidUp)
Most robots seem cold and mechanical. Moya doesn’t. According to DroidUp, Moya’s body temperature is between 90°F and 97°F, roughly the same range as a human’s. Company founder Li Qingdu says robots meant to serve people should be warm and approachable. This idea seems thoughtful until you imagine a warm-skinned humanoid standing next to you in a quiet hallway. DroidUp says this design hints at future use in healthcare, education and commerce. He also considers Moya a daily companion. This idea could excite engineers. However, for many people it triggers the opposite reaction. Heat removes one of the few clear signals that separate machines from humans. Once this line is blurred, discomfort increases quickly.
Why this humanoid robot’s walk seems so strange
Moya does not roll or slip. She walks. DroidUp claims its walking motion is 92% accurate, although it’s unclear how this figure is calculated. On screen, the movement looks cautious and a bit stiff. It looks like someone is moving carefully after a day of legs at the gym. The hardware underneath does a real job. Moya runs on the Walker 3 skeleton, an updated system connected to a bronze medal in the world’s first robot half marathon in Beijing in April 2025. Simply put, robots are getting better at moving through everyday spaces. Seeing one do this seems strange and convincing, not impressive. It makes you stop and look, then wonder why you feel so uncomfortable.
Camera eyes and facial reactions raise privacy concerns
Behind Moya’s eyes are cameras. These cameras allow him to interact with people and respond with subtle facial movements, often called microexpressions. Add in built-in AI and DroidUp now calls Moya a fully biomimetic intelligent robot. This sentence sounds impressive. This also raises obvious questions. If a humanoid robot can see you, track your reactions, and mirror your emotional signals, trust becomes complicated. You might forget that you are interacting with a machine. You can act differently. This change has consequences in public spaces. This is an AI that comes out of the screens and gets physically closer. Once that happens, the stakes change.
The price alone keeps this robot away from your home
If you’re worried about waking up to a warm-skinned humanoid in your house, relax for now. Moya is expected to launch in late 2026 for around $173,000. This award places her firmly in institutional territory. DroidUp sees the robot working in train stations, banks, museums and shopping centers. Duties would include orientation, information and interactions with the public service. That still leaves many people worried, especially those whose jobs already seem vulnerable to automation. For homes, the future looks even more like robot vacuum cleaners than walking companions.
Up close, Moya’s eyes appear almost human, raising the question of how much realism is too excessive for robots intended to operate in public spaces. (DroidUp)
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What does this mean for you
It’s not about buying a humanoid robot tomorrow. It’s about where the technology is going. Warm skin, camera eyes, and human-like movements signal a shift in design priorities. Engineers want robots that integrate socially. The more successful they become, the harder it becomes to maintain clear boundaries. As these machines enter public space, questions about consent, surveillance, and emotional manipulation will follow. Even though the robot is polite and helpful, its mere presence changes people’s behavior. Fearful reactions are not irrational. These are warning signs.
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Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Moya’s debut is worth paying attention to because it’s real enough to trigger discomfort almost instantly. This reaction matters. This suggests that people are being asked to get used to realistic machines before they have time to wonder what that actually means. Humanoid robots don’t need warm skin to be useful. They don’t need faces to point someone in the right direction. Yet companies continue to push toward realism, even if it worries people. In technology, speed often comes before thinking, and this is one area where slowing down can be more important than rushing forward.
If a robot with warm skin and camera eyes greeted you in public, would you trust it or would you avoid eye contact and walk faster? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
Moya’s human appearance is intentional, from her warm skin to the subtle details of her face designed to appear familiar rather than mechanical. (DroidUp)
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