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'World's sexiest robot' causes a frenzy at Beijing tech conference

Even at an advanced technology conference, movie stars can somehow command the attention of an entire room simply by showing up.

Especially when they're also robots.

The World Robot Conference in Beijing was reportedly taken by storm this week when the latest iteration of Geminoid F – an almost terrifyingly-realistic robot woman – made an appearance during the show.

Known to many as "the world's sexiest robot," the rubber-skinned android can speak, sing, and even act according to China's state-run news service.

She made headlines just a few weeks ago, in fact, when it was announced that she was starring in the Japanese disaster flick Sayonara, making her the first robot to score an actress profile on IMDB.

China.org.cn reports that Geminoid's F, a creation of Osaka University's Ishiguro lab, was designed to look like a woman in her 20s and that her operating system allows her to imitate the motions and facial expressions of real people.

Her silica-gel skin can even age, in a sense.

"The gel will become saggy after one or two years and has to be replaced as a result," said Sun Yuting, a Chinese student working for Ishiguro lab, to a reporter at the conference.

The 5-foot-6 android can also make eye contact with humans, recognize body language, and show off a "toothy smile" according to her creators.

"A Geminoid is an android whose appearance closely resembles a specific human 'model'," reads an English page about the female robot and her male counterpart on Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories' website. "Geminoids' bodies are constructed by precisely measuring human models with a 3D scanner; gypsum is used to accurately capture facial contours."

A page dedicated specifically to the Geminoid F model, written in Japanese, explains that the lab hopes this type of robot becomes more common in "communication media for every day life."

It also includes a link to additional pictures of the tele-operated android.

China.org.cn reports that the "beautiful woman in a yellow sweater" with "silky black hair and sparkling dark eyes" was one of the World Robot's star attractions this year.

"Unlike models found at an autoshow, the crowd was not attracted by her beauty," reads an article about Geminoid F's appearance. "Instead they were drawn by the chance to chat with a life-like Japanese android."

Geminoid reportedly interacted with members of the audience as they rapid-fired questions at her.

When one man asked her age, she answered slowly (but in a "clear, natural voice"): "My age is a secret. I like chatting with people."

Fans are also said to have commented on how "hot" the robot is, with some expressing enthusiasm over the idea of having their own realistic humanoid companion.

"There are people like me who have only one child," said one 34-year-old visitor to China.org.cn. "Twenty or thirty years in the future, when my child is grown-up, a robot that can communicate with me might be a good choice."

According to the government-run news source, Geminoid F was among the most advanced robots at 2015's conference – which only speaks to how truly advanced her design must be, given what else was showcased this week.

A cute robot with his own pet dog (also a robot)...

A robot that can play – and beat – humans in a game of table tennis...

And a robot that can serve beverages to political leaders.

You can see a video of Geminoid F in action at the conference here and judge whether or not she's more impressive than the ping-pong bot for yourself.