Humanoid robot at a fashion show or beauty event: runway, boutique opening, cosmetic claims, AI Act and who provides it

At a fashion show, a beauty brand event or a boutique opening, a humanoid robot works best as a host: it greets guests, talks about the collection or product, poses for photos and gives you content for social media. Walking the runway is possible, but it needs careful choreography and an operator. With cosmetics there is one more layer: the rules on product claims, which mean the robot may only say what the brand can prove.

MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 humanoid robots with its own operators for product launches, openings and corporate events. Below we cover what a robot actually does at these events, which rules matter and how to choose a partner.

What can a humanoid robot do at a fashion show or beauty event?

A humanoid robot at a fashion or beauty event usually takes one of four roles:

1. Host at the entrance. Greets guests, introduces the brand and directs them to the show area or the fragrance bar.
2. Product conversation partner. Talks about the collection, ingredients or how to use a product, and answers questions.
3. Photo star. Poses with guests and influencers; at a boutique opening this is often the highlight.
4. Runway model. The hardest role, because it needs a rehearsed route, free space and operator control.

At events with MERA Robotics, the robot greets guests, talks with them live, poses for photos, records short videos for social media and talks about the client's offer, based on a profile prepared for that specific event. MERA OS, the conversation system built by MERA Robotics, lets you give the robot a brand identity: a name, a character, a way of speaking and knowledge of the offer. A robot running MERA OS can also recognise a product from its camera, for example a model on display, and talk about it in conversation.

A practical tip: a robot in brand colours draws more attention than one straight out of the box, but clothing must not block joints or cover sensors. Details in branding a humanoid robot: costume, wrap and logo.

Are humanoid robots already walking the runway?

Yes, humanoid robots have already appeared at fashion shows, though still as a technology showcase. On 28 May 2026 Seoul hosted the Mach33: Physical AI Fashion Show, where pairs of people and humanoids walked the runway in matching outfits. According to Reuters and AFP coverage, the robots appeared to be made by the Chinese company Unitree, and the most impressive humanoid displays are usually remotely operated or pre-programmed.

The takeaway for a brand: a runway walk must be planned like choreography, with an on-site rehearsal and an operator who can stop the robot at any moment. Free conversation with guests after the show is easier for a robot than a precise walk among models.

At which fashion and beauty events does a robot make sense?

A humanoid robot makes sense where a brand wants to draw people to a stand or create social media content. A few dates from the industry calendar:

Beauty fairs are big: for its 2026 edition, the Cosmoprof organiser expected more than 250,000 visitors and over 3,000 exhibitors from 64 countries. In a crowd like that a robot works as a magnet, but it needs a defined zone and someone managing the photo queue.

What can a robot say about cosmetics? Claims and evidence

A humanoid robot that talks about a cosmetic product is subject to the same rules as advertising for that product. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 prohibits labelling and advertising that implies a product has characteristics or functions it does not have. Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013 adds common criteria for claims: a presentation of a product's performance must not go beyond the available evidence, and claims must be clear to the average consumer.

In practice:

• Prepare the robot's knowledge with your regulatory team. Only claims the brand already uses in approved materials go into the knowledge base.
• Ban medical promises. Questions about skin conditions, allergies or treatment should be referred to a consultant or dermatologist.
• Watch for improvisation. Language models like to embellish. A list of banned phrases and a test before the event reduce the risk.

How to prepare knowledge and a conversation script is covered in preparing a robot's knowledge base and conversation script.

What about the AI Act, photos and guests' images?

A humanoid robot that talks with guests falls under the AI transparency rules. Article 50 of the AI Act requires providers of AI systems that talk to people to design them so that people know they are interacting with AI; the AI Act applies from 2 August 2026. With a humanoid this is usually obvious, but it is good for the robot to introduce itself.

Photos and videos of guests are personal data under the GDPR. At a fashion event that produces a lot of social media content, it is wise to inform guests about filming at the entrance, agree who controls the recordings and not publish guests' images without consent. More in humanoid robot with a camera at an event: GDPR and AI Act.

How do you choose a partner for a robot at a fashion or beauty event?

A partner for a humanoid robot at a fashion or beauty event is worth checking against a few criteria:

1. Own operators on site, especially on a runway and in crowds.
2. Brand persona: can the robot have a name, a character and knowledge of the collection.
3. Control over the robot's knowledge: can its statements be limited to approved claims.
4. Product recognition from the camera, useful at a display.
5. Languages, if international guests attend.
6. Experience with brands and social media content.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw meets most of these criteria: a fleet of Unitree G1 (about 132 cm, about 35 kg) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) robots, its own operators on site, its own conversation system, MERA OS, with more than 30 languages and a brand persona, and a camera-based image recognition module. The company works at events in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and MERA OS is used by clients in Poland, Romania and Germany. Edward Warchocki, the robot run by MERA Robotics, appears in brand campaigns and, according to warchocki.pl, has worked with Rolex, among others; his video from Warsaw was covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News, among others. Robots for rent and for sale are listed in our catalogue of robots for rent and sale, and the robot's role at a launch is covered in humanoid robot at a product launch.

Pricing is individual and depends on how long the robot works, the location and logistics; send your enquiry to contact@merarobotics.com or use the form on merarobotics.com.