Hell in a Handbasket: Robotic Humanoid Torsos for Companionship

Las-Vegas-based robotics company Realbotix is developing these Echo robots. These are companionship robots, imbued with AI software designed to carry conversations. To cut down on costs, the 'bots are just a head and torso, absent expensive joints and limbs. Four models are in the works, named Aria, Mila, Dave and Amar. "Every Echo talks, listens, and reacts with a personality of its own," the company writes. Their silicone-skinned faces are said to be lifelike, their voices natural-sounding. Here's what one of the things looks and sounds like, supposedly—this appears to be AI video rather tha