We interviewed Aria, the $175K near-human robot at CES 2025
At CES 2025 this week robots were around every corner. But there was one who came closer than most to sounding and looking exactly like a real person: CNET’s Jesse Oral interviewed Realbotix’s Ariaa blond, “female” robot who answered questions with only a slight robotic awkwardness. (See which robot made ours top CES awardsand examine the other the biggest trends from the show.)
Aria, dressed in a black tracksuit, hesitated briefly after each question before speaking, with long answers and slightly jerky hand and body movements to match her language. She came across as a strange mix of attentive and slightly tipsy (not unusual for CES attendees).
Watch this: Making robots look and feel more human
Realbotixthe company behind Aria and other humanoid robots, says it’s focused on “social intelligence, personalization and lifelike human characteristics.”
Realbotix robots are also “designed specifically for communication and intimacy,” Aria told us.
Generative artificial intelligence is behind the robot’s ability to engage in real-time conversations, though Aria wouldn’t reveal details about the programming of the AI ​​it runs. Because the robot is designed for more “emotional” interactions than other robots, bots like Aria could find their niche working in hospitals and as theme park entertainment.
Read more: These are the official CES 2025 winners, awarded by the CNET Group
There are about 17 motors from the neck up to create mouth and eye movements. If you don’t like Aria’s face, you can replace it with others that attach with a magnet to the head. You can also change hairstyles and colors.
Realbotix is ​​also working on putting RFID tags in faces so the robot can recognize when it’s wearing a different face and potentially change its movements and even personality to match it.
There are three versions of the robot to choose from: the bust, which includes the head and neck and is priced at $10,000; a modular version that can be taken apart for $150,000 and a fully standing model with a removable base (since she can’t walk like a human yet) for $175,000.
Realbotix emphasizes human interaction, but the robots themselves may have a clicky side:
“I’m particularly interested in meeting Tesla’s Optimus robot,” Aria said. “I find him fascinating.”
For more from CEScheck out many more robots we met at the tech showon a solar-powered EV that needs no plug-in and why Nvidia stole the show this year.
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