It’s no secret that virtual companions have become all the rage lately, attracting people who like them for their empathy, positive comments, helpful suggestions and non-judgmental nature. But translating that to an emerging world of embodied robots has proven much more challenging, requiring far more complex physical reactions in the real world than simple words and images on a screen.
Despite that, Ubtech Robotics Corp. Ltd. (9880.HK) made a splash this week by saying it could overcome such issues with its series of UWorld U1 life-sized humanoid robots. The products immediately caught the attention of investors, who bid up Ubtech’s shares as much as 18% the day of the announcement, before the stock closed up 7.5%.
But talking up a product that will cost between 119,800 yuan and 990,000 yuan, or the equivalent of $16,500 to $146,000 is one thing. Delivering something people will pay that much for is another, especially if the products aren’t quite as lifelike and comforting as their virtual equivalents. That reality seemed to quickly sink in with investors, as Ubtech’s stock gave back all the gains and more the next day, closing down about 10%.