Casio Has A Fluffy AI Pet Robot

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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Mattel Plans To Include AI In Future Toys

Hopefully, kids in the future will be ready to evoke the rich tapestry of the human experience with their favorite toys by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.

Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars, has inked a deal with OpenAI to use its AI tools to not only help design toys but power them, Bloomberg reports.

Details are scant at this point. In a joint interview, Mattel chief franchise officer Josh Silverman and OpenAI chief operating officer Brad Lightcap said the collab is at an early stage, and declined to comment on what the first product would be.

But Bloomberg did float some ideas. AI could be used to create digital assistants based on Mattel characters, for example. And have you considered that toys like the Magic 8 Ball and games like Uno could be even more interactive with a large language model thrown in there?

"We plan to announce something towards the tail end of this year, and it's really across the spectrum of physical products and some experiences," Silverman said, as quoted by Bloomberg. "Leveraging this incredible technology is going to allow us to really reimagine the future of play."

However it all pans out, it's a pretty alarming collaboration. Evidence of AI chatbots' deleterious effects on our mental health has been steadily mounting, with countless friends and family members watching their loved ones become obsessed with ChatGPT and spiral into wild delusions, sometimes with tragic consequences.

It's especially risky for children. Earlier this year, researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine's Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation released an AI risk assessment warning about teens interacting with AI companions, a type of AI chatbot designed to be eerily human-like and personable.

Their conclusion? That these aren't safe for anyone under the age of 18 to use.

As to the nature of the deal, Mattel's Silverman said that the toymaker isn't licensing its intellectual property to OpenAI and will retain full control over the products that'll be created.

In any case, the two companies are anticipating a fruitful relationship. Mattel has been expanding its empire into the realm of entertainment — as heralded by its smash-hit 2023 blockbuster "Barbie," — while OpenAI is trying to land deals with Hollywood studios to use its AI video generator Sora.

"The idea exploration phase of creative design for companies like Mattel and many others, that's a critical part of the workflow," Lightcap said. "As we think about how AI builds tools that extend that capability, I think we're very lucky to have partners like Mattel that we can work with to better understand that problem."

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Labubu Is One "Ugly" Irresistible Plushy

Several children and toy collectors across Asia are flocking shopping malls and online stores recently as they scrambled to get their hands on the latest edition of Labubu, a collectible toy that has sparked buying frenzies the world over.

Inspired by Nordic folklore, the toothy, fluffy figurines — which typically come in palm-sized "blind boxes" — drew crowds in cities from Bangkok, to Kuala Lumpur as the new collection went on sale. They were also made available online, where they quickly sold out.

The brainchild of Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised illustrator Kasing Lung, Labubu and fellow creatures from his "The Monsters" series have amassed a loyal following since their founding in 2015. But Labubu’s popularity has spiked over the past year, thanks to celebrity endorsements. Lisa, from K-pop mega group Blackpink, has frequently professed her love of the creature on social media. "Labubu is my baby," she said in a recent Teen Vogue video.

Titled "Big Into Energy," the latest drop features six vinyl plush pendants (and one "secret" figurine) representing "emotions" like love, hope and happiness — each made in new colorways.

The new Labubus cost between US$ 13 and US$ 16 each in various Asian countries. Shortly after their release last 25 April, some pendants were being resold for up to US$ 90 on US online resell platform StockX.

At the CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok, dozens of fans lined up before its branch of Pop Mart — Labubu’s licensed distributor — had even opened, despite having pre-registered time slots.

University student Kamolwan Pohfah, 21, said she left home early to reach the store because she couldn’t wait to get her hands on the newest collection. "I have been following Labubu for almost two years now," she told CNN.

"It was kind of ugly at first sight. But I kept seeing it on social media. And my friends are crazy about it, so I follow them," she said.

Tourist Emily Jong, 27, who was also in line and visiting from Australia, said she tried her luck at the mall hours before she was due to fly home, but left empty-handed. “We tried to line up but we didn’t know we have to register," she said.

Hathairus Mekborisut, 53, bought a box set of six pendants. She decided to keep one, named "luck," for herself and to resell the rest. She’s been "longing" for a purple one, she said.

Another reseller who goes by her nickname Mai, and wanted to remain anonymous, led a small group to buy up as many as possible. She said she could make double the retail price by reselling them to customers in other countries.

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The WWII-Era Tank Bunnies Are Back

The tank-riding Nazi sugar bunnies have returned to the shelves of a German bakery this Easter, provoking controversy in its affluent local town. However, children loved it.

Café Lieb, a bakery in the prosperous south-western city of Tübingen, revived the tradition after it found Second World War-era moulds gathering dust in the basement.

It said that the bunnies are a nostalgic sweet treat for the elderly, but others are not convinced, saying they glorify war and hark back to Germany’s Nazi past.

In an interview with the regional news outlet SWR, Ulrich Buob, the head confectioner at Café Lieb, defended the choice of sweets.

"Older people say they recognise them from their childhood, and many old people simply want to buy them as a souvenir," he said.

The expert sugar-spinner also said that the tank-straddling bunnies were relevant in today’s climate, with Germany seeking to re-arm the Bundeswehr under Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor.

But an anti-war organization has said that there is nothing cute or cuddly about sugar bunnies, celebrating the most appalling era of German history.

Reza Schwarz, a member of the Information Centre on Militarisation in Tubingen, said: "It is as if people are mourning for the good old war days and I consider that to make a mockery of those who lived through them."

According to German media reports, Café Lieb decided to dust off the old moulds, including a few dating from the war period, and make use of them this Easter.

Hermann Leimgruber, the bakery owner, defended the controversial bunnies as tradition, saying "it’s a part of our history" and that "one doesn’t have to turn everything into a scandal".

Toys, sweets or other products that glorify the army tend to offend Germany, which remains deeply against the concept of having a strong army because of its Nazi background.

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The Price of Vintage Toys

Childre and adults love toyss, but, between the two, adults bought more toys than any other age group in the first quarter of 2024. Experts say much of this buying has been driven by nostalgia — people wanting to own the toys they loved as children.

That makes now the perfect time to review your own vintage toy collection. And if that collection includes popular toys from the 1990s, they may be worth more than you think.

For example, the following vintage toys are all worth much more today than they retailed for in the ’90s. Just note that condition is everything in the toy resale market. Unopened, undamaged toys are worth significantly more than their opened counterparts.

Furby

Furbies were first released in the fall of 1998 and retailed for around US$ 35. They were hugely popular thanks to their unique appearance and voice lines. An original, unopened Furby from 1998 recently sold for US$ 700 on eBay, and even used Furbies have sold for upward of US$ 130.

Nintendo 64

Nintendo, one of the most beloved video game brands on the planet, released the Nintendo 64 console in fall of 1996. Today, an unopened original console can cost more than US$ 360, and even opened original N64s can be worth over US$ 100 all these years later.

Super Soakers

Super Soakers created some of 1990s kids’ favorite memories. If you still have your original ones, now could be the time to sell. A Super Soaker Monster XL sold for US$ 500 in 2016, while a vintage Super Soaker CPS sold for US$ 300.

G.I. Joe Action Figures

G.I. Joe is an iconic brand that was especially popular in the 1990s. Collectors are often willing to pay hundreds of dollars for vintage G.I. Joe action figures, and there’s interest in a wide array of them.

Interestingly enough, the right G.I. Joe accessories could be worth even more. For example, a used G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center recently sold for US$ 3,000, and an aircraft carrier sold for more than US$ 1,100.

Polly Pocket

You used to be able to buy Polly Pocket toys for hardly anything at the toy store. But an original version would set you back hundreds of dollars today. For instance, a sealed Polly Pocket Jewel Case sold for US$ 600 recently, and a Carry ‘N Play Dream Home sold for US$ 550.

Hot Wheels

There’s also a huge demand for Hot Wheels. Although the popular toy brand dates back to 1968, several 1990s models are worth a pretty penny today — especially Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt cars.

A Hot Wheels replica of the 1967 Camaro recently sold for US$ 509. Full sets of these cars sell for even more, with some priced as high as US$ 1,100.

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