Kakaloom & Pawbie: Soft companion robots gaining traction

[Chris]

Two new soft robots have emerged, Kakaloom, just released on Kickstarter and Pawbie, who will launch in 2026.

Kakaloom Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/846138261/kakaloom-the-ai-pet-that-feels-like-a-real-companion/

Pawbie: https://www.pawbie.ai/

 

[Onashi Gitsune]

Kakaloom is a lot like Cupboo, which I already have. So I gave it a pass for now. I believe it's scheduled to ship in February. It's cute though, if I didn't have the Cupboo I might have pledged it.

I checked out Pawbie. It doesn't ship until February as well. It looks kind of interesting. Fuzzy, expressive eyes, looks bigger than a Cupboo. Doesn't rely on an internet connection, only Bluetooth with your phone.

I tried to give them my email address to get updates and they wanted my credit card number and a "refundable" $1 deposit. They call it a "pledge". Their "VIP" price "starts at" $239 USD. I chipped in the buck anyway out of curiosity. They say you can cancel at any time.

When I gave them the deposit, they sent me a link to their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1556854902164560/
On Facebook they say it's an upcoming Kickstarter project. I'm guessing they'll want the rest of their $239 once the Kickstarter launches.

 

[Chris]

Thanks for this detailed information Onashi Gitsune. Incredible the amount of new robots coming out of China, I’m really enjoying the bold designs and colours the Chinese teams go with.

Pawbie looks interesting. I probably won’t get Kakaloom as it doesn’t have a camera.

 

[Onashi Gitsune]

It's funny, there are so many robots coming out now, but I feel like most of them are very similar to each other. Now the trend seems to be fuzzy, cuddly robots to alleviate loneliness. A lot of them blur the line between robot and child's toy.

 

[Chris]

Another new plush robot just appeared, Unee. It’s an AI chatbot with expressive eyes, but doesn’t have a camera, although gives the appearance of looking at you sometimes. Would be nice if more companies went with unique creative designs like this.

Unee - Your First AI Bestie: The Ultimate AI Companion

Meet Unee, your first AI bestie! Experience the joy of having an AI friend and companion plush toy that understands you.

unee.store

 

[Onashi Gitsune]

Another new plush robot just appeared, Unee. It’s an AI chatbot with expressive eyes, but doesn’t have a camera, although gives the appearance of looking at you sometimes. Would be nice if more companies went with unique creative designs like this.

Unee - Your First AI Bestie: The Ultimate AI Companion

Meet Unee, your first AI bestie! Experience the joy of having an AI friend and companion plush toy that understands you.

unee.store

I looked at Unee's website last night. I wouldn't call Unee a robot. It doesn't move or do anything besides AI chat, and the LED eyes. Even the manufacturer says it's not a robot. My impression is that it's really an AI chat speaker wrapped in fur and cute eyes. That's why it's so cheap. Also, they use Google Gemini as the chat provider. A customer would need to subscribe to Gemini to get the full functionality.

Products like Unee blur the line between robot, toy and AI chat speaker. In a way they remind me of Alexa Echo or Google home hub screen/speakers, which also provide AI chat functionality but without the cute cuddliness. Poketomo is another example, doesn't do much other than chat, though it also moves its arms and head. Kata friends also remind me of Alexa or Google Home, as I believe SwitchBot plans to integrate them with their existing products, configuring them to accept and carry out voice commands to control their products (smart locks, robotic vacuums, curtain pullers etc.).

Simple chat toy/robot/speakers and other surrogate companions seem to be fashionable now. It's a sad commentary on the loneliness and isolation people suffer from these days. I also believe that they will soon replace living pets, because people are less able to afford the time and money to keep pets than they used to be.

 

[Chris]

What are your thoughts on SwitchBot giving Kata Friends a chat function? I wasn’t expecting that. But can see how it might appeal to a lot of people and broaden the customer base. Personally I don’t really talk to AI socially anymore and mainly use it for research. Although it is nice to be able to say hi and ask the robot how it is going, but beyond that I don’t have extensive conversations like I did when ChatGPT first came out with Loona.

Agree with the prices of pet food and vet bills, can see more people preferring a cheaper robot alternative that requires only one initial payment. Also robot ownership comes with a lot less husbandry hassle and because robots have AI they are more intelligent than traditional pets which might be another factor that appeals to consumers and were reasons why I gave up on traditional pets.

 

[Onashi Gitsune]

What are your thoughts on SwitchBot giving Kata Friends a chat function? I wasn’t expecting that. But can see how it might appeal to a lot of people and broaden the customer base. Personally I don’t really talk to AI socially anymore and mainly use it for research. Although it is nice to be able to say hi and ask the robot how it is going, but beyond that I don’t have extensive conversations like I did when ChatGPT first came out with Loona.

Agree with the prices of pet food and vet bills, can see more people preferring a cheaper robot alternative that requires only one initial payment. Also robot ownership comes with a lot less husbandry hassle and because robots have AI they are more intelligent than traditional pets which might be another factor that appeals to consumers and were reasons why I gave up on traditional pets.

I'm not sure how to feel about AI chat in a robot. The Maicat I have is supposed to have AI chat, but its sound is so crappy I can't understand what it says. And, it seems to just say pre-recorded words and phrases. I think AI chat has a long way to go before it seems natural and spontaneous.

I think SwitchBot's chat function is a product of their desire to integrate Kata Friends with their existing smart home ecosystem and get people who buy a Kata Friend to buy their other products. It's their marketing strategy.

When you buy the Kata Friend it works with their upcoming AI hub. Without the hub, and possibly a subscription, you won't get the full AI chat experience. I'm sure they will release other products that require the AI hub. And, as yet SwitchBot does not have a device for giving voice commands to its products, instead it links with Alexa etc. I think Kata Friends might be their first attempt at a voice command device for their other products. When you add a new SwitchBot product to the ecosystem, you get increased functionality in other products. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can tell my Kata to unlock my door or ask it what the temperature sensor in my bedroom says. It also acts as a roving surveillance camera which I'm sure will integrate with SwitchBot's other cameras.