Companionship now comes with a Charging Cable

Echo, a line of humanlike companion robots intended to bring a face and voice to conversations with artificial intelligence, is open for reservations. Realbotix announced it is accepting $199 deposits through its website. 

The concept is that the robot would serve as a companion one can talk to and personalize. Realbotix says the Echo artificial skin, moving facial features, and built-in speakers to make those exchanges feel more natural. It is marketing robots for companionship, education, and wellness, though the announcement does not establish benefits for users.  

Users can choose among four characters: Aria, Mila, Dave, and Amar with each one of them having a distinct appearance, voice, and personality. Through the Realbotix app, owners will be able to adjust how their robot interacts with them. The app is currently in an invitation-only test on iPhones, with Android support planned.  

The tabletop Echo costs $11,950, while the full-body version is listed at $59,950. Both plug into a standard electrical outlet and require a monthly AI subscription.  

The entry-level subscription starts at $19.99 a month and includes 10 hours of conversation. Once that allowance runs out, the robot is limited to basic functions. Buyers therefore need to consider both the hardware price and the continuing cost of talking to it.  

It also has an optional vision upgrade, called Vinci that is intended to help the Echo recognize faces, maintain eye contact, and respond to visual cues. Realbotix says the system can process conversations and visual information locally. Those capabilities remain in company claims, rather than independently verified results for the new models.  

As per the company, it also has plans for a digital version of each character, allowing owners to interact with their chosen companion when they are maybe away from the physical robot.  

For now, the robot-human relationship begins with a reservation. Realbotix plans an initial run of 225 tabletop robots and 25 full-body units. As it stands, the delivery dates are estimated, and its website warns that some promotional images and videos are AI-generated illustrations. The robot that eventually arrives may differ from the one ýou may see online.