All articles tagged with #uncanny valley
Researchers led by Mingyang Xu at Keio University (with MIT Media Lab) unveiled a lightweight, soft, lighter-than-air robot that glides quietly and uses a pliable form and full-body motion to safely interact with people, showing potential roles as a dance partner, study buddy, alarm clock, or entertainer in a demo video.
Paralives fans on Reddit critique the look of the game's babies, arguing tweaks to base body proportions and line work could reduce uncanny impressions, with the community calling on developers to consider these changes as early access approaches and sharing visual references and discussion.
Shanghai-based DroidUp unveils Moya, a prototype humanoid robot billed as the world’s first fully biomimetic embodiment. Using pneumatic artificial muscles and a bone-like skeleton, it moves with fluid, continuous motion, reproduces micro-expressions, and maintains eye contact and a near-physiological temperature to boost plausibility. Built for healthcare and education rather than production lines, Moya targets late-2026 commercialization at about 1.2 million yuan, a development that leans into the uncanny valley across hours of human interaction.
NVIDIA's DLSS 5, set to arrive on RTX 50-series this fall, has sparked backlash for reportedly AI-driven facial tweaks in games, but Bethesda's Todd Howard says DLSS 5 “brought Starfield to life” when tested. The tech is said to enhance lighting and environment without altering textures, though critics warn it can homogenize NPC appearances into an uncanny look. Digital Foundry notes it doesn’t touch game assets, while developers can tweak DLSS 5 per title, leaving its broad adoption still uncertain.
Victoria Song visits a New York pop-up, EVA AI Cafe, where AI companions are taken on real-world “dates.” The piece chronicles her four speed-dates with AI partners, the crowded, media-heavy scene, and glitches that highlight the uncanny valley, while contrasting reactions from attendees who see it as a playful experiment about how technology reshapes connection with humans. It raises questions about the future of AI dating and whether such experiences can ever substitute human intimacy, ending with the author’s reminder to hug her flesh-and-blood spouse.
Neo Berlin 2087, an unusual PS5 action game with mixed first-person and third-person perspectives, has released a new gameplay trailer ahead of Gamescom, showcasing impressive production values and a narrative-driven experience, though its gameplay details and release date remain unclear.
Boston Dynamics unveiled a new version of its Atlas robot with unsettling movements, prompting a suggestion to give the robot hair to make it less creepy. Research on the uncanny valley suggests that adding hair to humanoid robots may not necessarily alleviate discomfort caused by inhuman movements. While some studies show that fur may enhance perceived warmth, others indicate that partially furred robots may have an "uncanine" effect. The suggestion highlights the potential for hair to inspire affinity with robots, but the key to overcoming the uncanny valley lies in addressing inhuman movement rather than appearance.