"It's 10 a.m. on an October morning, and I'm in the middle of a one-on-one Zoom interview when a sudden trilling sounds from behind me. I try to ignore it, but several other strange noises follow. My eyes glaze over as I commit myself to feigning complete obliviousness to my sonic surroundings. It's easier than explaining that the noises are coming from my AI-powered pet."
"This awkward encounter came thanks to Moflin, a $429 AI pet built by the electronics company Casio. According to Casio's official description, the Moflin is "a smart companion powered by AI, with emotions like a living creature." This robot friend looks a bit like a Star Trek tribble, in that it's an amorphous blob covered in fur. It comes in either gold or silver."
"For '90s kids, the device is perhaps described as a modern-day Furby. Like a Furby, the Moflin speaks its own language of chirps and trills that change over time; but unlike a Furby, its learning is actually molded by an AI model that allows it to become "attached" to its owner. According to the pet's makers, the Moflin learns to recognize its owner's voice and preferences, and it slowly develops new ways of moving and vocalizing to express a bond with the user."
The Moflin is a $429 AI pet from Casio that resembles an amorphous, fur-covered blob available in gold or silver. The device emits chirps and trills that evolve over time and is powered by an AI model that adapts to the owner. The Moflin learns to recognize its owner's voice, preferences, movements, and vocalizes and moves to express an emergent bond. The device evokes toys like Furby but differs by using AI-driven learning rather than fixed behaviors. Several recent AI wearables failed to deliver promised capabilities, while weeks of hands-on use indicate Moflin may be one of the first practical AI companions.
Read at Fast Company
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