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Launch of Figure 03

On October 9, 2025, Figure unveiled its latest general-purpose robot, called Figure 03. With the help of the Helix AI platform, it can understand speech, analyze and interpret its surroundings, and take appropriate action. Figure 03 is designed for use in the home, where it can do laundry or load and unload the dishwasher. It is covered with soft textiles instead of hard, machine-finished parts. As with earlier models, the face is mask-like and unapproachable. It has integrated palm cameras and fingers with tactile sensors. The company writes: “Each fingertip sensor can detect forces as small as three grams of pressure – sensitive enough to register the weight of a paperclip resting on your finger. This precision enables Helix to distinguish between a secure grip and an impending slip before it occurs, allowing fine-grained, dexterous control over fragile, irregular, or moving objects.” (Website Figure) Hundreds of thousands of models are to be produced in the coming years. Further information is available at www.figure.ai/figure (Image: ChatGPT/4o Image).

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Unitree Robots in Venice

At the 2025 Architecture Biennale in Venice, Unitree robots are part of both an installation and a performance. While one robot paints on a canvas, the other plays music. However, you have to be lucky to see the performance, because most of the time the humanoid robots stand still or hang in the air. This is disappointing for visitors, who turn their attention to Alter3, which seems to know no fatigue. Another performance featuring carving cobots is also not on display, according to the media, for safety reasons. On the screen, you can see the arms reaching out to the audience. Although such proximity is normal for a cobot, individual visitors, such as children, can be unpredictable. So, in the hall where the robots are concentrated, there is at least one negative example of how a robot park should not be implemented. Information about the Biennale Architettura is available on the website.

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Alter3 in Venice

The installation entitled “Am I a Strange Loop?” will be on display at the 2025 Architecture Biennale in Venice. It raises the question of whether artificial intelligence can develop a form of self-awareness. The installation features the humanoid robot Alter3, which has mimic, gestural, and verbal abilities. It uses GPT-4 or GPT-5. Visitors can communicate with it in different languages via a microphone. The installation draws on ideas from physicist, computer scientist, and cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter, who assumed that consciousness arises when a system reflects on itself. Alter3 is an impressive robot with a silicone face and silicone hands, but otherwise has a machine-like presence. GPT-4, GPT-5, or other language models cannot create either world consciousness or self-awareness.

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Initial Thoughts on Wearable Social Robots

Wearable social robots are very small yet extremely powerful systems that can be worn around the neck, on the body, or in a shoulder bag or handbag. They are not only companions to humans, but become part of them by expanding their senses and means of expression. The article entitled “This robot suits you well!” (subtitle: “On the phenomenon of wearable social robots”) by Oliver Bendel defines the term “wearable social robots”, presents areas of application, and discusses social and ethical challenges. Recommendations for developers and users are also provided. It becomes clear that wearable social robots represent novel tools and extensions or enhancements of humans, whose capabilities go beyond those of apps on smartphones. The article was published on September 25, 2025, in Wiley Industry News, not only in German but also in English. It can be accessed at www.wileyindustrynews.com/de/fachbeitraege/dieser-roboter-steht-ihnen-aber-gut or www.wileyindustrynews.com/en/contributions/that-robot-suits-you-well.

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Oliver Bendel on Wearable Social Robots

At the last session of the ICSR on September 12, 2025, Oliver Bendel presented his full paper titled “Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired”. He began by defining the term wearable social robots, which he sees as a special form and combination of wearable robots and social robots. One example is AIBI, a small robot that he briefly wore around his neck during the talk. Wearable social robots can include functions for games and entertainment, information and learning, navigation and description, and combating loneliness and anxiety. Potential user groups include pupils and students, prison inmates, astronauts, and disabled and impaired persons. Franziska and Julia demonstrated in videos how they use AIBI as a companion and for social support. With this paper, Oliver Bendel continued his work in the field of inclusive AI and inclusive Robotics. The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide, and its 17th edition took place from September 10 to 12, 2025, in Naples, Italy. Mariacarla Staffa (University of Naples Parthenope, Italy), John-John Cabibihan (Qatar University, Qatar), and Bruno Siciliano (University of Naples Federico II) served as the main organizers. Over the course of the three days, 300 participants attended, contributing once again to the advancement of social robotics.

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Small Talk with a Robot

At the last day of the ICSR on September 12, 2025, Katharina Kühne presented her full paper titled “Small Talk with a Robot Reduces Stress and Improves Mood” (written together with Antonia L. Z. Klöffel, Oliver Bendel, and Martin H. Fischer). Previous research has shown that social support reduces stress and improves mood. This study tested whether small talk with a social robot could be helpful. After performing a stressful task, 98 participants either chatted with a NAO robot, listened to the robot tell a neutral story, or did not interact with the robot. Both robot interactions reduced stress – particularly small talk, which also boosted positive mood. The effects were stronger in participants with high acute stress. Positive affect played a key role in stress reduction, suggesting that robot-mediated small talk may be a useful tool for providing emotional support. Dr. Katharina Kühne and Prof. Dr. Martin H. Fischer are researchers at the University of Potsdam. Antonia L. Z. Klöffel assists Katharina Kühne as a junior scientist. Martin Fischer is the head of the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG). Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel is an associated researcher with PECoG.

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Anouk Wipprecht at ICSR

On September 12, 2025, Dutch FashionTech designer Anouk Wipprecht gave a keynote speech entitled “The Intersection of Fashion, Robotics and Technology” at ICSR 2025 in Naples. In her presentation, she demonstrated how fashion can become an interactive experience that goes far beyond pure aesthetics by incorporating state-of-the-art technologies and scientific insights. With her designs, Wipprecht explores how clothing can transform not only our perception but also our relationship with the environment. A striking example of this is her Spider Dress, which uses integrated sensors and movable limbs to create a kind of technologically enhanced personal space. She collaborates with renowned partners such as Intel, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Audi, and Swarovski, employing techniques like machine learning, biomimetic design, and microcontroller-driven animatronics. Her creations breathe, move, and respond to external stimuli – always with the aim of exploring new interfaces between humans and technology, and encouraging her generation to reflect on the future of the human body in digital space.

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The Mirokaï

The third and final day of ICSR 2025, September 12, 2025, began with a keynote speech by Jérôme Monceaux entitled “Emotivation by Design: The Mirokaï”. Present was one of the Mirokaï, spectacular robots that roll on a sphere, the female Miroka. Jérôme Monceaux’s keynote traced the evolution of robotics toward more intuitive, inspiring, and joyful interactions. From the iconic Nao and Pepper robots at Aldebaran to the latest generation of social robots, The Mirokaï by Enchanted Tools, his innovative approach reshaped design, mobility, and user experience. He shared his vision for humanoid robots built to support people in everyday life and work. By combining bold engineering with endearing character design, embodied AI, and meaningful storytelling, Jérôme Monceaux and his team created a cohesive hardware and software ecosystem that integrated naturally into social environments – especially in care settings like senior living and pediatric hospitals. The approximately 300 participants watched enthusiastically as the inventor and visionary spoke to Miroka on stage and handed it a bubble flower, which it accepted and used.

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About Robots in Space

On September 10, 2025, Tamara Siegmann and Oliver Bendel presented their short paper “Wearable Social Robots in Space” at the ICSR poster session. The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition takes place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy.  The term “wearable social robots” was introduced by Oliver Bendel in his article “Wearable Robots” and in his full paper “Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired” (both from 2025). These are social robots with features of wearables and wearable robots. One example is AIBI from LivingAI. Tamara Siegmann and Oliver Bendel, both from the FHNW School of Business, investigated possibilities for the use of wearable social robots in a Mars mission. They demonstrated that these are useful for daily routine support, operational assistance, intimacy-related support, communication enhancement, and social facilitation. This is the first study of its kind. However, reference could be made to several projects involving humanoid and social robots for space missions. The poster can be downloaded here.

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Embodiment of Social Robotics Girl

On September 10, 2025, the workshop “Social Robotics Girl Becomes a Social Robot” took place at ICSR 2025. The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition takes place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. The workshop was led by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business, Switzerland), Tamara Siegmann (FHNW School of Business, Switzerland), Leo Angelo Cabibihan (Roboticscool, Qatar), and Prof. Dr. John-John Cabibihan (Qatar University, Qatar). For the GPT, which was created by Oliver Bendel at the end of 2023, a suitable body and head were sought, with embodiment in the broadest sense being the goal. Leo Angelo Cabibihan and John-John Cabibihan had already created several models with Meshy and printed them out using a 3D printer. At the request of the participants, three groups with different goals were formed. The first group wanted to create an avatar and a figure with a human-like appearance, the second with a thing-like appearance, and the third with a gender-neutral appearance. First, Oliver Bendel gave an introduction to the creation of GPTs. Tamara Siegmann reported on her experiences with Social Robotics Girl. John-John Cabibihan introduced the use of the tools. The individual groups considered their embodiment. Avatars were created and animated with Meshy. Then the first models went into print. A final presentation summarized the possibilities and challenges.