The robot is called Moflin. It costs $429—and it’s adorable.

BY CHLOE AIELLO, REPORTER @CHLOBO_ILO

Photo: Courtesy Casio

There’s a new AI companion hitting the U.S. market, and this one comes in an irresistibly cute package.

Casio’s AI-powered emotional support robot, Moflin, launched in the U.S. on Wednesday after taking Japan by storm. The small furry robot, roughly the size and shape of a small guinea pig, responds when touched or spoken to. It coos and squeaks, nuzzles and shakes its head. Casio says Moflin can learn the voice of its primary user, and over time will develop one of 4 million possible personalities, depending on how the user interacts with it.

Moflin may look and sound like a toy, but at $429, it costs as much as some wellness wearables like Oura Rings or Apple Watches. (A real guinea pig costs about $57 at PetSmart.) That’s no mistake—the robot was designed for wellness applications.

“Moflin is there to reassure you and to comfort you throughout any stage of life, and to be there through all the hard times,” Cecilia Lederer, Casio’s manager of strategic communications and influencer engagement, said during a Wednesday launch event. “AI is really the power behind Moflin. It’s taking our interaction with it and using that information to respond back to us. And we really believe that this is the future of companionship.”

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