Very popular has become a robot in China that emphasizes … companionship and not industrial functionality.

This is Lovot, a robot developed by the Japanese technology company Groove X and its name comes from the collapse of the words “Love” and “Robot”.

“He’s watching me!” The kids who have gathered around the playful robot are shouting in a Shanghai bookstore. Lovot turned his head, opening his expressive eyes and extending his hands looking for a hug.

Customers of the bookstore were short to take a photo with him, admiring his “behavior” that resembled that of a pet. “It’s like having a pet that knows how to hug,” observed a bookstore customer.

Lovot has gained impressions in China, and one can meet it both in public places and in houses in numerous cities.

“Chinese consumers embrace innovation, in particular, in the open, inclusive and creative environment of Shanghai,” said Lovot’s creator and founder of Groove X, Canem Hayai.

He added that “China is an ideal market”.