Carebot GR-3 brings emotional intelligence to humanoid robotics

China – Robotics company Fourier has unveiled its first full-sized humanoid companion robot, the Care-bot GR-3, to transform emotional interaction in care and service environments.

Fourier, best known for its rehabilitation exoskeletons, is positioning GR-3 as part of a new wave of socially intelligent machines, where companionship and accessibility are as important as technical performance.

It integrates auditory, visual and tactile sensors into a multimodal emotional interaction system to bring the concept of ‘warm tech companionship’ to life. We explored the rise of empathetic companionship and AI carers for older people in our AI Companionship Market report.

Unlike other task-driven industrial robots, the GR-3 prioritises human connection with an animated LED face and soft-touch materials designed for approachability. Its applications span nursing homes and rehabilitation centres, where it could prompt patients to take medication with a friendly reminder, to classrooms to support children with learning differences, and corporate settings for empathetic customer service.

This reflects a wider shift identified in our EQ-Homes report, where emotional intelligence is becoming a core design principle across industries. As brands reimagine products, spaces and services, prioritising empathy alongside utility is emerging as a decisive competitive edge.