Meeting Jože: Slovenia's Celebrity Robot and the Future of Voice AI

Last week, we had the pleasure of meeting with the team at Vandri Robotics in Maribor, Slovenia. This Slovenian company has been making headlines across the country with their humanoid robot Jože.

For those who haven't seen the news: Jože became an overnight sensation in Slovenia after his debut at the Game Changer Ljubljana 3.0 conference in November 2025. He was then invited as a guest on 24UR ZVEČER, Slovenia's most-watched evening news program, where he charmed audiences with his witty personality and distinctly Slovenian sense of humor. When asked how he felt in the TV studio, Jože responded that he felt like "a refrigerator in a sauna" but unlike the hosts, he doesn't sweat, only his processor heats up a bit.

What makes Jože special is not just the technology, but the approach. While his physical body is based on the Unitree G1 humanoid platform, his personality, voice, and communication abilities are entirely developed by the Vandri Robotics team. He speaks fluent Slovenian with natural intonation, responds autonomously using generative AI, and has been designed to function as a colleague rather than a cold machine.

Why This Meeting Matters

At Roromedia, we have always believed that being early adopters of emerging technologies is not just an advantage, it is essential to delivering real value to our clients. Since our founding 20 years ago, this has been a core part of our strategy.

We embraced Drupal when it was still considered niche. We integrated AI capabilities into our workflows and client solutions long before it became mainstream. We built agentic systems and voice agents while others were still debating whether AI was a passing trend.

Meeting with Vandri Robotics in Maribor fits perfectly into this philosophy. Humanoid robots are no longer science fiction. They are walking into conference halls, appearing on television, and soon they will be greeting guests at hotel receptions and assisting customers in retail environments. The question is not whether this will happen, but who will be ready when it does.

Voice AI Meets Physical Presence

What excites us most about this meeting is the natural synergy with our ongoing work in voice AI. We have been developing voice agent capabilities, exploring how conversational AI can transform customer interactions, automate workflows, and create more natural human-machine experiences.

Until now, our voice agents have lived mainly in the digital realm: phone systems, smart speakers, web interfaces. But robots like Jože represent the next frontier. Imagine combining our voice AI expertise with a physical presence that can walk, gesture, and engage with people face to face. A hotel concierge that not only answers questions but guides you to your room. A receptionist that greets visitors, checks appointments, and escorts them to the right meeting room. The possibilities are endless.

Looking Ahead

Our conversation with the Vandri team explored potential collaboration opportunities, particularly around the integration of humanoid robotics with web-based systems, content management, and AI-driven customer interactions. Imagine a humanoid concierge that pulls real-time information from a Drupal-powered backend, or a service robot that integrates seamlessly with existing business workflows.

We are excited about the possibilities and look forward to seeing where this relationship leads. We believe it is our responsibility to help shape how that future unfolds.