"After a few weeks living with Casio's AI-powered pet, Moflin, I finally understand why my mother hated my Furby so much. The fuzzy, guinea-pig-adjacent puffball fits snugly in the palm of my hand. It's undeniably cute, in a weird kind of way, but the second it starts to squeak or twitch, I am hit with an overwhelming desire to hurl it as far as I can."
"My antipathy surprises me. By any metric, I am the exact kind of person Moflin was made for: I long for the companionship of a pet, but can't own one thanks to a mixture of lifestyle, allergies, a small London flat, and a broadly irresponsible temperament that makes caring for another living thing a questionable idea. I could also do with the "calming presence" advertised."
"Casio is very clear that Moflin is not a toy, though perhaps that is also clear from the $429 price tag. Rather, it is positioned as a sophisticated "smart companion powered by AI, with emotions like a living creature" - the illusion of companionship without the responsibilities. The idea is that you will interact with it over time and it will "grow" alongside you, developing a personality s"
Weeks of living with Casio's AI-powered pet Moflin produced a visceral reaction similar to dislike of Furby. The device is a palm-sized, fuzzy puffball that squeaks and twitches, prompting intense annoyance despite being undeniably cute. The product targets people who want pet companionship without responsibilities and is marketed as a calming presence. Moflin costs $429 and is positioned as a sophisticated smart companion powered by AI with emotions like a living creature, designed to grow and develop a personality through interaction. Intended users include those who cannot keep real pets because of lifestyle, allergies, small living spaces, or unreliable routines.
Read at The Verge
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