Move over ChatGPT or Gemini! If you feel the urge to pamper your emotions with more than just textual or voice-based conversations, the therapeutic technology industry (yes, that’s a thing) has a cute little thing to pamper you better than your average pet. Meet Moflin, a unique new product that nobody thought they ever wanted. Moflin wants to be your pet – even better, it wants to be better than your average Golden Retriever or a furry cat. This cutesy soft toy-like robot promises the same sort of satisfaction as a real pet.
AI pets, or AI-powered robot pets, represent an uprising industry, with a major appeal for those who want a companion with them all the time – without the hassles of dealing with a living being’s negative aspects. Casio’s robot, called Moflin, is essentially a small bundle of fur that responds to your inputs, makes cutesy sounds as you pet it. The robot is emotional too, and will alter its behaviour based on the relationship with you. Casio, which has earned a reputation in all these years as a legendary maker of watches and calculators, has stated that Moflin is designed to offer emotional pampering.
In layman’s English, it means that this fur ball promises to calm you down or cheer you up without any of the associated hassles or allergies of a living pet.
Casio Moflin: Why should you consider it?
The core purpose of Moflin is to act as a gentle, non-judgmental companion that helps to ease stress, reduce loneliness, and bring comfort to its owner. It is specifically marketed for animal lovers who, due to allergies or living situations, cannot own a real pet.
Moflin’s key features center around its emotional AI. Thanks to generative AI, Moflin simulates a wide spectrum of feelings, including joy, curiosity, relaxation, and even loneliness. Relying on its complex movement motors, the robot reacts to human interaction with unique movements and sounds. It doesn’t walk, and due to its compact size, it is portable too. You can keep it on your desk, carry it around in your bag, and even share your bed space with it.
How Moflin works
Moflin’s ‘soul’ functions as a responsive, adaptable AI. On the hardware side, it is equipped with an array of sensors, including a microphone, an illuminance sensor, touch sensors, and an accelerometer/gyroscope. This combo allows it to detect:
Physical interaction: It responds positively to stroking, hugging, and gentle pats.
Acoustic input: It learns to recognise its owner’s voice and responds best to soft, close voices.
Neglect/Startling: It can display negative emotions if ignored or startled.
Casio says that its emotional growth is tracked via the dedicated MofLife app, which allows the owner to sense Moflin’s current feelings and review past interactions in a digital journal.
Moflin develops a unique personality based on daily interactions. Casio says that the robot does not record or understand speech – it converts voice features into non-identifiable data used to recognise its owner. Moflin’s AI can generate up to 4 million unique emotional possibilities, ensuring that no two Moflin companions are exactly alike.
Moflin’s AI behaves just like a new pet – the reactions grow from immature movements with limited emotions on Day 1 to expressive reactions with a clear range of expressions by Day 50. Moflin lasts up to five hours on a single charge and once its battery depletes, you need to put it down on its furry bed, where it takes up to 3 hours to fully recharge the battery.
How to interact with Moflin
The AI, along with the inbuilt sensors and motors, enables users to pamper the pet just like a real-world domesticated pet.
– Stroking Moflin’s head, neck, back, or sides gently.
– Holding Moflin in your arms while talking to it.
– Speaking softly near Moflin’s face as they respond to quiet and close voices.
– Avoid turning over Moflin on its back.
Casino Moflin: Price and availability
Moflin is currently available for purchase exclusively through Casio’s official e-commerce website. It comes in two colour options – Silver and Gold.
As far as the price is concerned, the Moflin AI robot costs $429 (approximately Rs 38,000). While that may seem pricey for a robot toy that wants to imitate a pet hamster, the package includes the robot itself, its charging Moflin Bed, and an AC adapter.
Should you have a Moflin?
If you have been yearning for a therapeutic, low-maintenance, and allergy-friendly pet without worrying about the hassles, the Moflin seems to be worth the premium that Casio asks. It can simulate a growing emotional bond, all while keeping your data private. It can be the ideal companion for all those moments when you feel the need for love and care, think about ideas, and so much more. For bachelors, working individuals, and older people, who yearn to have company, this could be a great way to diminish loneliness and boredom.
For everyone else who finds it quirky or toyish, it is best to stay away until the second-generation Moflin drops – it could have more emotions to portray with more movements, last long on a full battery charge, and cost a lot less.
