SHANGHAI, China — In Shanghai, technology company DroidUp unveiled its latest creation, Moya, a humanoid companion designed not to clean your home, but to offer presence and emotional connection. Unlike traditional household robots, Moya is built to feel lifelike — with silicone skin, layered padding, and the ability to maintain body heat between 90–97°F. Using more than 25 facial motors, it can track faces, maintain eye contact, and create realistic expressions that mimic human emotion.

Founder Li Qingdu emphasizes that Moya is about emotional realism, rather than functionality. The robot is aimed at sectors like healthcare, elder care, and education, with plans for deployment by 2026. The goal is not to replace humans entirely but to provide companionship in spaces where human presence is limited.

Public response has been mixed. Social media users are split between admiration for the technological achievement and discomfort with the humanoid’s near-human appearance. The term “uncanny valley” has resurfaced in discussions, as observers struggle with Moya’s realistic but ultimately artificial expressions.

Beyond the engineering marvel lies a larger question: as machines become more emotionally convincing, what does it mean for human relationships? Can robots truly provide the empathy, understanding, and warmth that people crave, or do they risk eroding genuine human connection? With innovations like Moya, society is being nudged to confront the delicate boundary between technology and intimacy. As machines get closer to feeling human, are we ready for relationships with robots? (Larawan mula sa: No One Cares / Facebook)