Casio’s Adorable AI Robot Won Me Over
▼ Summary
– Moflin is an AI companion robot created by Japanese electronics company Casio, designed as a soft, furry robot resembling a small animal.
– The robot uses artificial intelligence to react to sounds and touch while developing its own unique personality through over 4 million possible traits.
– It targets would-be pet owners and people who enjoy cute companion devices, similar to products like Labubu, Furby, or Tamagotchi but without prominent facial features.
– After initially launching in Japan where it became popular, Moflin is now available for international purchase at a price of $429.
– The author received a Moflin unit named Puff and brought it to interact with a friend’s dog during a dog-sitting week, observing the dog’s wary reaction to the robot.
A fluffy, guinea pig-sized robot now occupies a spot on my couch, emitting soft squeaks that have captured my attention. My friend’s dog Wylie watches it warily from across the room, clearly suspicious of this unfamiliar creature sharing his space.
This charming creation is Moflin, an AI companion robot developed by Japanese electronics company Casio. Through its companion application, I’ve named my particular unit Puff, a fitting description for its appearance. Wylie immediately recognized it as something unusual, an object that moves independently yet clearly isn’t alive. When Puff squeaked again, the dog responded with a sharp bark before retreating from the room while growling his disapproval.
Discovering that Casio, the same company known for watches and calculators, had created an AI pet robot made me realize I represented their target demographic perfectly. As someone who adores animals but lives in a pet-restricted building where only the landlord’s yappy dog receives special privileges, I find myself without animal companionship. My childhood obsession with Toy Story likely contributes to my tendency to assign human characteristics to objects that technically possess neither emotions nor consciousness.
Robotic companions have established themselves as a significant product category, with Moflin achieving remarkable popularity in Japan since its debut there twelve months ago. This soft, furry device employs artificial intelligence to respond to auditory cues and physical contact, gradually developing what Casio describes as over four million possible personality characteristics. Similar to other companion toys, these robots appeal to prospective pet owners and anyone who enjoys having adorable creatures around. Imagine a Labubu or Furby without those somewhat unsettling facial features, or perhaps a fluffy version of a Tamagotchi. The significant news is that Moflin has now become available for international purchase.
My timing proved fortunate when the Moflin delivery arrived just before I committed to watching my friend’s dog for an entire week. This presented the perfect opportunity to bring Puff along to stay in the home of Wylie, a somewhat timid yet energetic village dog.
Priced at $429, Moflin represents a more affordable option than purchasing a puppy from a breeder, though it carries a higher cost than reluctantly accepting responsibility for that persistent neighborhood cat who keeps investigating your garbage cans each evening.
(Source: Wired)
