China's Robot Companions Sell Out in 10 Days — Are the Chinese Falling in Love with AI?
In June 2026, UBTech's U1 ultra-bionic humanoid robot companion racked up 3,800 pre-orders in ten days. No housework, just companionship — a product likely priced above $20,000 landed at the intersection of China's 280 million single adults and a 5.8-trillion-yuan loneliness economy. From technological milestones to ethical dilemmas, from the late-night solitude of young urbanites to the exuberance of capital markets, this article traces the full spectrum behind a phenomenon.
