A humanoid robot doll is launched at a price of 9,999 yuan. Is the embodied intelligence version of Labubu even more appealing?
The day has finally come.
A robot team named "Lingtong" recently released their first product, the NIA - F01 (Chinese name: Nian). It is a desktop - level AI embodied humanoid robot with a height of only 56CM. The biggest difference from common robots is that it is designed based on the female form, and its appearance is very "anime - style".
Image source: figurobot
With the emergence of large AI models, humanoid robot technology is constantly making breakthroughs. Lei Technology previously predicted that "AI + robots" would not be limited to the industrial level but would quickly "invade" the lives of ordinary people. Of course, what I'm talking about is not the kind like Unitree's. Instead, it refers to robots with a more human - like appearance and even artificial skin. In some science - fiction works, they have a specific name, "androids", and their appearance is similar to the NIA - F01 created by Lingtong.
In many science - fiction works, androids can not only assist humans in completing work but also take on the important task of taking care of daily life and even meeting emotional needs. For example, in the famous science - fiction movie "Blade Runner 2049", the protagonist "K" has a virtual girlfriend and pours all his love into her. Although it's a movie, with the development of AI technology, similar things have actually happened around us. This makes Xiaolei start to think: Could "robot girlfriends" become the next big trend? Let me clarify in advance that this article by Xiaolei is not a promotion for certain products. It's just an attempt to discuss with everyone. In this era when emotional needs are strong but often unmet, how will AI embodied humanoid robots designed to meet personal emotional needs change our lives? Will future young people buy dolls like Pop Mart's Labubu or robot dolls like the NIA - F01?
You can buy a "poseable figurine" for 9,999 yuan
Of course, today's human technology is still far from reaching the level depicted in science - fiction works, and large AI models have not really learned to "think". However, this does not prevent us from integrating them with embodied humanoid robots to create products that meet our emotional needs.
Let's get back to the NIA - F01. To find an easy - to - understand example, Bandai's "Mecha Girls" series of assembly models might be the closest description. In fact, the NIA - F01 also supports mild personal DIY. Users can replace the facial accessories, hair, and clothes of the NIA - F01. Besides the replacement accessories included with the product, users can also have wigs and clothes designed and made by others to meet their DIY needs.
Image source: JD.com
By now, I guess some anime fans have already pictured certain specific anime characters in their minds. However, at this stage, apart from being able to move and make sounds, this product actually has no other functions. It is only 56CM tall and weighs less than 1.2KG. So, the idea of it helping you with housework or solving problems is still hard to realize.
Actually, Xiaolei values the design concept of the NIA - F01 more. Besides having strong mobility, the Lingtong team uses the ECE algorithm (Emotional Resonance Engine) to integrate multi - modal large AI models and has designed a database containing multiple emotional expression actions. The NIA - F01 can capture the user's actions and the surrounding environment through the camera located in its eyes and match the most suitable actions and emotions according to the user's voice information to meet the user's emotional needs.
In addition, the Lingtong team has also created a set of rich "scenario customization tools" for the NIA - F01. Users can edit the actions, habits, and voices of real people, virtual idols, or anime characters into a set of behavioral logic and then load it into the NIA - F01's internal database, allowing the NIA - F01 to imitate "her" behavior and communicate with you. Moreover, users can upload the behavioral logic they designed to the community for other users to use.
Image source: JD.com
I guess some anime fans are overjoyed by now. Well, Xiaolei still needs to remind everyone to pay attention to issues of portrait rights and copyrights. Although in China at this stage, using large AI models to replicate "people" is still in a gray area, the replicated "subjects" still have the right to safeguard their own interests. (But then again, selling personal emotional templates might become a new market segment?)
Actually, the product positioning of the NIA - F01 is very simple. You can think of it as a high - end "Barbie doll" or a "figurine". Although the price of 9,999 yuan is indeed not cheap, a set of Disney dolls also costs one or two thousand yuan, right? Moreover, the NIA - F01 supports conversation and autonomous movement. If you buy the community version during the early - bird period, you can get one free (a mass - produced version will be directly given away after the mass - produced version is released). Actually, it's not that expensive when you think about it.
Although everyone is definitely curious about the actual experience of the NIA - F01, this product is still in the pre - sale stage. Currently, only an egg - shaped robot named "Xuanji" can be shipped. According to the official statement, Xuanji uses the same large AI model technology as the NIA - F01. Users can shape the personality and memory of the built - in AI through communication. After the official release of the NIA - F01, the official will provide a memory transfer service, allowing your exclusive AI to be reborn on the NIA - F01.
Regarding this operation, I can only say that the official really knows how to provide emotional value to the target users. The plot of a personally - cultivated AI being reborn in a humanoid robot can really appeal to some people. It is said that the mass - produced version will be launched as early as the end of the year, so the community version will probably be shipped in September. If you're interested, Lei Technology can continue to follow up and report on it for you at that time.
Will AI companion robots become a huge trend?
In the past year, as the technology of large AI models has become more mature, more and more hardware devices equipped with large AI models have appeared in our field of vision, and many of them are products that focus on "companionship". For example, the Moflin, which became extremely popular in Japan, is designed and manufactured by the well - known Casio. It looks like a furry worm, but it is equipped with a large AI model and a voice function. As soon as it was launched, it was sold out, and it was even resold for over 20,000 yuan on Xiaohongshu in China.
Image source: Casio
Facts have proven that many adults are actually very willing to pay for "emotional needs", especially white - collar workers living in first - tier big cities. The fast - paced life, busy work, and complex interpersonal relationships make people involuntarily look for an emotional outlet. Who wouldn't want to have a portable "confidant" that can sense your emotions and communicate with you according to your preferences?
If the experience of the NIA - F01 is really as good as what the Lingtong team has promoted, the price of just a few thousand yuan is not a problem for urban white - collar workers who are "starved for love". This is also the reason why Lei Technology is paying attention to this product. If the NIA - F01 is successful or shows good market performance, this market segment will soon attract the attention of other capitals, and the number of related products will experience an explosive growth.
After all, a similar situation has already happened in the market for AI glasses. Look at the number of AI glasses released in the past year. It's even more than the total number in the previous three or four years. You can attribute it to the "profit - seeking nature" of capital, but it's also undeniable that with the support of China's powerful industrial supply chain, as long as there are no core patented technologies involved, the market reaction speed will be beyond most people's imagination.
In Lei Technology's view, the same goes for AI embodied humanoid robots. They even have the opportunity to become one of the most popular AI hardware market segments in the future. It's not only adults who have a demand for such products; children do too. Especially in single - child families, if parents are busy with work, a robot that can chat with children, relieve their boredom, teach them, and even perform safety monitoring tasks can actually solve a lot of problems.
Image source: AI - generated
Of course, such robots don't have to be in human form. There are already many products in different forms such as robot dogs and robot balls on the market. However, considering personal acceptance, interaction, and user experience, embodied humanoid robots are definitely the best choice.
It's time to seriously consider the "interpersonal relationship" between humans and robots
As for whether AI robots will "turn evil" like in science - fiction works, the possibility is still very low at present. Current AI is still a long way from having "self - awareness", and products like the NIA - F01 are essentially just AI toys. So, instead of worrying about AI robots turning evil, we should worry about whether people will "fall in love" with AI and become dependent on it.
The view that "AI understands me better than real people" is no longer an exception and has even been recognized by many people. This actually reflects how serious the current emotional deficiency of people is. Xiaolei thinks that how to guide users to interact with AI in a healthy way may become one of the key issues that the future AI industry needs to focus on.
Don't think Xiaolei is exaggerating. From the perspective of technological development, although the NIA - F01 can only perform simple communication and actions and still requires in - depth human participation in co - creation at present. But how much time has it taken for large AI models and embodied humanoid robots to develop to the current stage? What will they be like in another 5 or 10 years?
When embodied humanoid robots really start to penetrate into daily life and even have stronger autonomous decision - making abilities, "how humans and robots get along" may no longer be just a topic in science - fiction novels but a reality that we must seriously face. So, would you accept a "obedient" robot girlfriend?
This article is from "Lei Technology" and is published by 36Kr with permission.