tech
February 7, 2026
It looks you in the eyes, smiles, and walks like a human: Moya is a robot that seriously disturbs people
In videos that have spread across the internet in recent days, a humanoid robot smiles, nods, and looks its interlocutor straight in the eye. It doesn't look like a technology demonstration, but like an encounter with something that is trying to understand you. It is precisely this impression that has caused discomfort among a part of the audience that saw the robot Moya for the first time.
TL;DR
- Moya is a biomimetic humanoid robot developed by China's DroidUp, aiming for natural human-like behavior and reactions.
- The robot utilizes embodied AI, interacting physically with its environment and people through movement, eye contact, and facial micro-expressions.
- Moya's features include a human-like gait (92% precision), ability to mimic emotional micro-expressions, and a body temperature between 32-36°C.
- Public reactions in China have been divided, with some fascinated by its realism and others finding its behavior unsettling.
- The robot's development builds on DroidUp's previous projects, though specific technical details and platform information are not widely confirmed.
- Moya's modular design allows for customization of its appearance, pointing towards potential diverse applications in the future.