ElizaWakesUp

ElizaWakesUp is building a 5’10” humanoid companion robot that walks, talks, and runs an 8-minute mile—basically taking AI companionship into full physical form. We covered the launch announcement when pre-orders opened in January 2025, revealing a $420,000 price tag for what might be the most ambitious AI companion project yet. The robot features an animatronic face, conversational AI powered by ElizaOS (developed by Ai16z DAO), and physical capabilities that go way beyond the stationary companions we’ve seen so far. Developed by Nick Liverman and incubated by Ryze Labs in collaboration with Old World Labs, ElizaWakesUp represents the intersection of AI, blockchain, and robotics. The project evolved from the Eliza AI agent framework—named after the 1960s ELIZA natural language program—into this physical humanoid form. While the company hasn’t explicitly marketed it as a sex robot, the AI companion category naturally raises questions about consent programming and intimate interaction design that researchers and regulators are already grappling with. The robot is slated for delivery in 2025, positioning ElizaWakesUp in the upper tier of the emerging humanoid companion market.