The Mori Is a Mushroom-Shaped AI Lamp Companion, and I’m Smitten
The $849 Mori is designed to respond to your environment, knowing when to play and when to stay quiet.
The Mori, an AI robot companion, is a mushroom-shaped lamp with a playful personality, created by the company Oka. Though it boasts a hefty price tag of $849, the device stands out for its ability to respond contextually to its surroundings and users. Unlike other AI devices, Mori uses its sensors and cameras to interact playfully with you, speaking its own babylike language and responding to commands and comments.
This AI robot is 10 inches tall and tilts its head and moves its "eyes" to follow your voice. It processes images and audio on the device to discern context before discarding them, with facial recognition data only stored locally to distinguish familiar faces. Mori does have the ability to play music, but its offerings are limited to meditative sounds and a glowing light show.
Pressing its head triggers a retreat into its body, playing white noise-like songs with colorful lighting. The AI behind Mori enables it to react more contextually than many companion robots, sounding a bit like a pet dog when spoken to.
At $849, the price of Mori is higher than those of other toys, but it is more affordable than companion robots such as Sony's $3,200 Aibo robot dog. The device comes with two years of subscription, with an option to pay $17 per month or $80 per year afterward. Oka envisions the device evolving its personality as it lives with its owner, potentially transferring to future editions. While Mori may not be the only companion robot on the market, it offers a unique and gentle approach to AI interaction.
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