MIT Researchers Build Rolling Social Robot from Twelve Labubu Heads

At the MIT Media Lab, a team comprising Miranda Li, Jake Read, Dimitar Dimitrov, and Cynthia Breazeal has developed Labububot, a social robot that rolls and features twelve Labubu heads configured in a dodecahedron-like spherical shape. This initiative received backing from the Research@Scale residency led by Cedric Honnet and academic assistance from Neil Gershenfeld. Labubu, designed by Kasing Lung and manufactured by POP MART as part of The Monsters series, is a collectible vinyl plush pendant celebrated for its ambiguous charm. Unlike typical friendly designs, Labububot leans into ambiguity and visual extravagance, drawing inspiration from monster theory and referencing Frankenstein. The robot lacks a defined front or back, possesses no singular expression, and navigates indoor environments by following individuals. Initially, it was prototyped as Neilbot in the CBA segment of 'How To Make Almost Anything' (Fall 2025), with video documentation created by Jimmy Day.