GoKawiilIf you've been holding off on adopting a pet because you don't want to clean up after them or concern yourself with pricey vet visits, the world of AI robot pots is expanding to cater to you and others with similar hesitancies. The latest example: SwitchBot, an AI-enabled home robotics systems provider, on Tuesday announced the launch of Kata Friends: two AI pets, Noa and Niko, with distinct personalities that will evolve over time.
"Kata Friends is 'pet first', meaning it gradually learns and grows with you. It is not a cold machine; it's a presence that feels alive," says the company's "parenting guide." It describes Kata Friends as the world's first on-device AI pet robot that grows with you and changes based on how it's "raised."
The hardware: Cameras, sensors and AI
Underneath their plush coats, the gentle, shy gray-furred Niko and the energetic, white-furred Noa have some serious hardware. Most notably, they were built with an on-device LLM -- an AI large language model -- allowing them to interact with you and respond anywhere, even without Wi-Fi.
Noa and Niko's LCD eyes have multiple colors and five expressions and can look in different directions, while their feet have wheels and a laser distance sensor radar that lets them navigate your home independently. In their bellies, you'll find obstacle-avoidance sensors, and their noses have cameras to recognize people and capture your special moments together.
With 12 touch-sensitive zones across their bodies, Kata Friends are designed to respond to every pat and cuddle with waving arms, swiveling ears and a microphone on top of their heads. When you're near them, they happily chirp; when alone, they murmur to themselves.
With its cameras, sensors and on-device AI, Kata Friends are able to react to how you're feeling. SwitchBot
What they respond to and how
Niko and Noa can respond to simple commands, such as "come here," and will pick up on how you're feeling with voice emotion recognition. If you have a cheerful tone, they will mirror your joy.
Kata Friends also react to gestures, especially since their eyes follow you around the room. If you wave, they will come to you, and if you give them a thumbs-up, they will have a happy reaction.
... continue reading