CES 2025 Concludes: AI Companion Toys Steal the Spotlight
- Wang Suhong
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
CES 2025 wrapped up last week, and AI hardware emerged as a central theme of the exhibition. Among the highlights was a surge of interest in AI companion toys. While this trend has only recently gained attention globally, it has already flourished in China, with established companies entering the fray and startups proliferating.
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The Evolution of AI Toys at CES 2025
The AI technology wave triggered by ChatGPT in late 2022 transitioned into application-based innovations by 2023.
In December 2023, Grimes, in collaboration with toy company Curio, launched three AI plush toys—Grok, Grem, and Gabbo. These toys, equipped with OpenAI-powered voice models, enable conversations with children. Paired with an app, parents can access recordings and transcripts from the past 90 days and block certain topics or words. Each toy was priced at $99 (approximately ¥717) and sold out rapidly upon release overseas.
In 2023, Alpha Group and Xiaoice launched an AI-assisted Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf sleep aid toy. It incorporated AI features to help children fall asleep through voice and music. Meanwhile, Shifeng Culture introduced the third-generation GPT-based Feifei Rabbit, offering conversational and interactive functions. By 2024, the company launched the AI Magic Star toy, featuring popular IPs like Pokémon and Dinosaurs.
Additionally, Leap Innovation released the BubblePal AI attachment in July 2024. With long-term memory functionality, this versatile add-on could attach to various plush toys. Priced at ¥449, it sold over 20,000 units within two months.
In September 2024, ByteDance's AI companion doll Xianyuan Bag, initially an internal gift equipped with Magicbox AI, became so popular on resale platforms that prices surged to ¥500.
The global enthusiasm for AI toys in 2024 saw products from Jinke Tom Cat (Talking Tom AI Robot), FoloToy (AI Cactus Toy), *Eijia Eban’s Dragon AI Pet, Samsung's smart projection AI companion robots, and TCL's educational toy sets. Even Tesla entered the fray, introducing a 1:10 scale humanoid robot figurine in December 2024 that sold out within 24 hours.
The underlying driver of this AI toy frenzy is a booming demand for emotionally intelligent, high-quality companionship. For children, these toys provide engagement, education, and monitoring capabilities for parents. For adults, AI pets and stress-relief robots cater to emotional comfort and relaxation needs.
Proactive Engagement in AI Companion Toys at CES 2025
At CES 2025, Ropet, an AI companion toy developed by Mengyou Intelligence, gained widespread attention. This plush robot exceeded its Kickstarter goal by 150 times, raising over $250,000. Designed for emotional companionship, Ropet features advanced sensors that detect facial expressions, voice tones, and even temperature. It responds intelligently—for example, offering a “hug” when sensing user fatigue or "asking" for food and remembering specific items over time. Its interactive design made it particularly popular with women aged 27–35.
Similarly, Japan’s Casio and startup Vanguard Industries released Moflin in November 2024. Combining the features of a hamster and rabbit, Moflin boasts an emotional expression map and personalized interaction, evolving a unique personality within 50 days of use. Priced at ¥59,400 (about ¥2,815), Moflin sold out during pre-orders, with resale prices soaring into the tens of thousands of yuan. Users describe it as a “mental support” tool, providing comfort for loneliness and anxiety.
In China, Cupboo, launched by Hangzhou Jianmo Technology, is a plush smart pet robot with a soft exterior, heartbeat simulation, and responsive AI. Cupboo uses advanced chips and servos for lifelike interactions and emotional responsiveness, with an official price of ¥1,399. Some models even sold out upon release.
Another CES 2025 highlight was Mirumi from Japan's Yukai Engineering. This "cling-on" toy with long arms attaches to handbags or arms and interacts with its surroundings using motion and proximity sensors. Mirumi is set to launch via crowdfunding mid-2025, with an expected price of $70 (approximately ¥513).
In addition, in Japan, LOVOT by Groove X is a 3 kg AI companion robot offering emotional support with touch, mobility, and real-time interaction via sensors and a 360° camera. elf-charging and capable of deep learning to adapt, LOVOT is priced at ¥349,000 (~¥21,430) in Japan and ¥70,000 in China.
The Market Potential for AI Companion Toys Beyond CES 2025
According to Statista, the global AI toy market is expected to reach $35.11 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 20%.
AI toy innovations that address user interaction and emotional needs, while ensuring privacy, appear poised for success. Advances in AI models could further enhance toys’ ability to interpret complex signals like subtle facial expressions, gestures, and physiological cues, enabling more nuanced companionship.
Beyond children and young adults, the elderly market holds untapped potential. AI toys designed for seniors could combine soft, comforting exteriors with functionalities like medication reminders and daily activity prompts, seamlessly integrating companionship and caregiving.
2025 might indeed mark the start of a transformative era for AI toys. Let’s wait and see.
