Casio Computer is famous for its watches. Now, it’s branching out with an artificial-intelligence-powered pet as rising loneliness makes more people turn to chatbots for companionship.
The Japanese company behind G-Shock timepieces has named the AI robot "Moflin," a play on the Japanese onomatopoeic word "mofu mofu" used to describe a fluffy texture like animal fur.
The furry electronic pet is selling faster than expected in Japan, and Casio wants to bring it to the U.S. and the U.K. next.
With AI models increasingly being used as life coaches, therapists, or even romantic partners, Casio sees an opportunity to tap that demand for connection with something more tangible.
Moflin, which can develop its own "personality" depending on how it is raised and interactions with its owner, could be the start of a new source of revenue for Casio.
"Watches and calculators are a mature market," said Ryoichi Furukawa, deputy senior general manager at Casio’s sound and new business division.
"We are working on building our next main revenue stream," he said. "Mental wellness is a clear growth area."
As of the end of May, Casio had sold 10,000 of the cuddly robots in Japan, where they retail for about US$ 400.
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