Thoughts on Kata Friends marketing? Might wait for Tesla dog…

[Chris]

Looks like SwitchBot are marketing Kata Friends primarily to a children’s audience judging by the advertising. Admit I’m disappointed. I get the impression these robots will be very basic and appeal mainly to young children looking for an animated plush toy, not a viable companion pet robot for adults. I don’t blame SwitchBot for going this route, they have to go with what will be successful for them at the end of the day.

Looks like I’ll have to wait for Tesla dog if I want a pet robot aimed at an older audience.

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[Onashi Gitsune]

I think you're right. They're not showing potential customers the robot or what it can do as a robot, they're depicting it as an imaginary AI cartoon character and toy. I watched several of their online cartoons and I felt like they were selling a care bear, not a robot. SwitchBot's AI Kata Friends cartoons remind me of the crappy cartoons on TV back in the 80's, whose sole purpose was to sell toys.

They've added the Kata Friends to their website but the only live action videos they show are a woman making a hand gesture to call them to her, and the same woman playing with their dolly clothes on them. Kind of reminds me of Ropets, which seem to be not much more than dressup dolls with pretty video game eyes, now that the promised AI chat feature was cancelled.

I've given up on them as well. I'll stick with the SwitchBot household devices.

 

[Chris]

I think you're right. They're not showing potential customers the robot or what it can do as a robot, they're depicting it as an imaginary AI cartoon character and toy. I watched several of their online cartoons and I felt like they were selling a care bear, not a robot. SwitchBot's AI Kata Friends cartoons remind me of the crappy cartoons on TV back in the 80's, whose sole purpose was to sell toys.

They've added the Kata Friends to their website but the only live action videos they show are a woman making a hand gesture to call them to her, and the same woman playing with their dolly clothes on them. Kind of reminds me of Ropets, which seem to be not much more than dressup dolls with pretty video game eyes, now that the promised AI chat feature was cancelled.

I've given up on them as well. I'll stick with the SwitchBot household devices.

After investigating other options like Lovot today I’ve resigned myself to getting one If the price is affordable and it means it won’t be a financial burden owning one. I could really do with a cuddly pet right about now. This seems to be the closest thing to a real pet that looks comfortable to hold. If you hear anything further about these feel free to share on here.