So many artificial intelligence devices are trying to command our attention, but when I met the Mori AI robot companion earlier this month, it was refreshing to see a device that’s using AI to exercise some playful restraint — even if its $849 retail price makes it a tough sell.
The Mori, announced Thursday by its maker Oka, is part glowy mushroom lamp and part Furby. And while it also looks a little bit like a larger smart speaker wrapped in fabric, the cutesy AI gadget made it quite clear that it was not interested in playing any of my playlists from Apple Music.
Instead, when activated, the Mori pops out of its body and uses its cameras and sensors to respond playfully to you — and, like a Furby, it speaks its own babylike language. It’s 10 inches tall (26.4 centimeters) and uses its sensors to help it tilt its head and move its “eyes” to follow your voice. Oka says the Mori processes images and audio on the device to discern context, then discards them. The device does store facial recognition data to distinguish familiar faces from unfamiliar ones, but Oka says that data isn’t uploaded either.
When I spoke directly to the Mori during my demo, it felt a lot like speaking to a friend’s dog: It will look and respond, but also reacts to other things at the same time. The AI that it uses to understand context seemed to come into play when I commented on how adorable it looked (it cooed and got a little shy) and when I asked Oka CEO Hua Wang if the Mori had a Bluetooth mode for playing music (the gadget made a sound of disapproval).
The Mori does play music, though its offerings are limited to meditative sounds accompanied by a glowing light show. Press its head, and it retreats into its body to play white noise-like songs while its head lights up in a variety of colors. It also reacts to music: It started bopping around when I played Carly Rae Jepsen’s Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor.
The adorable yet understated personality reminds me of the Furby from yesteryear and the $599 Ultimate Grogu we saw earlier this year, but the Mori’s use of AI allows it to react more contextually to its surroundings. This more docile take on a pet could appeal to someone who wants something more responsive than a talking toy that also blends in with their living room furniture.
The Mori costs more than those toys: $649 for its founder edition, $799 for the next round of preorders and, eventually, $849 for its standard edition. However, it’s a lot more affordable than a companion robot such as Sony’s $3,200 Aibo robot dog. It comes bundled with two years of its subscription, and afterward will cost either $17 per month or $80 per year.
Oka calls this edition the “Artificat 01” and intends for it to develop its personality as it lives with its owner. If an “Artificat 02” comes along down the road, your Mori’s personality should be able to transfer to its new body.
While I do think the Mori is adorable, it’s worth noting that companion robots already come in a lot of different forms, and we’ll likely see even more this January at CES 2027. These include robots that can float in the air and those designed as assistants and social companions for older adults. Oka appears to be taking a gentler approach, with a look that could fit right in alongside living room or bedroom furniture.
Mike Sorrentino
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