New life-sized robot helper that can do household tasks and even cook leaves people divided

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By Asiya Ali

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A human-like AI robot, that is eerily good at mimicking movements, has sparked a debate among social media users.

A Chinese tech company named Astribot has unveiled its latest advancement, which is powered by artificial intelligence.

The Shenzhen-based organization has been developing the robot, known as S1, for years and plans to release it commercially later this year.

According to Astribot, S1 is much faster and more powerful than your average human.

Watch the demonstration video below: 


The humanoid can carry out movements with a top speed of 10 meters per second, and hold a payload of 10 kg per arm. For comparison, an adult male can reach speeds of roughly seven meters per second.

In a demonstration video shared to show S1's abilities, the robot is seen performing mindblowing tasks such as repairing a piece of furniture, flipping a sandwich in a frying pan, pouring drinks, folding clothes, and operating a vacuum cleaner.

The clip highlights how technology has advanced so much that these robots can become the house employees of the future.


Many people were left fascinated by S1, stating that human-like AI robots should only be introduced to perform daily tasks.

One user wrote: "Yes. This is what robots need to be. Not looking or behaving like a human. They are great at this kind of thing," and another agreed, noting: "Exactly, gets bit creepy if they are too human-like."

"They should look like friendly machines we can get home and can trust. that's the crux of it which apparently many robotics companies seem not to get for some reason," they explained.

A third exclaimed: "HOLY S**T this is incredible," while a fourth added: "Probably the best one I have seen in terms of speed and dexterity. Really cool."

GettyImages-2149642037.jpgThe new human-like AI robot has sparked a debate among social media users. Credit: NurPhoto / Getty

Meanwhile, others expressed fear toward the invention.

"While I do love this, we’re looking at a future where the poor/unskilled compete for a dwindling number of jobs driving wages downward," someone said.

Hospitality tech company Loman AI spoke out about robots in commercial kitchens and revealed that it will become a common sight in the industry.

“New improvements in robotics, AI, and how robots see and understand their environment, let them do complicated cooking tasks safely,” it said, per News.com.au. “The cost of these robots is going down, making it easier for more restaurants to start using them.”

The company believes that soon, robot chefs will be able to create their own recipes.

GettyImages-1434694515.jpgAstribot plans to release S1 commercially within the year. Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty

S1 "can learn, think and work like people," adding: "They can use human tools and equipment to help people complete boring, difficult or dangerous tasks," per Astribot.

The site also notes that the parent company, Stardust Intelligence, was founded by Lai Jie, who also worked with Tencent Robotics Laboratory, Baidu, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Featured image credit: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty