A humanoid robot has read the news on Russian state television after a high-level robotics conference, disquieting some viewers.

During a Tuesday afternoon news segment on Russia-24, the robot “Alex” informed viewers of new microfinance legislation, the agriculture ministry's 2018 results and a nuclear technology forum in Sochi.

In an unhurried monotone, Alex also reported that Moscow authorities were searching for a homeless cat that was supposedly kicked by opposition city council candidate Ilya Yashin in a grainy video, which Mr Yashin has said is a fake.

The final news item featured an artificial intelligence conference at Skolkovo, a tech hub meant to be the Kremlin's answer to Silicon Valley.

“I would note that the main hero of the exhibit of technological innovations was me, the robot Alex,” the futuristic news anchor said, cracking a rather gruesome attempt at a smile.

Alex was created by the Perm-based startup Promobot, which produces service robots with computer-screen faces for state bank Sberbank, to resemble the company's founder Alexei Yuzhakov down to his facial stubble.

The humanoid can answer questions and hold a conversation based on data uploaded into its brain, while 29 motors in its silicon face allow it to mimic emotional expressions.