Mori might be the cutest AI companion robot yet, and it reacts to you like a pet
The Pokémon-like companion can blink, dance, act shy, and respond to what is happening around it.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.
iDevices may sound like an Apple product, but this connected home brand is pretty agnostic when it comes to its platforms. On Tuesday, the product company announced that its Connected Home line is now compatible with Google Assistant, making it one of the first and few brands to work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. So no matter what company you choose to run your smart home, chances are, you can add something from iDevices.
iDevices boasts a wide range of products, most recently debuting a number of in-wall options like their new Wall Switch, Dimmer Switch, and Wall Outlet. The company hopes to create smart home products that “integrate seamlessly and invisibly into users’ worlds,” and can all be operated sans a smart home hub. That said, if you do want to control your devices from a central place, you have plenty of options to choose from.
“The smart home ecosystem continues to evolve, and we are evolving with it,” said Chris Allen, iDevices’ CEO. “Our unique software architecture allows us to expand compatibility easily and quickly, so we continue to offer a comprehensive smart home solution to consumers. When people think ‘smart home’, words like ‘simple’, ‘easy-to- use’ and ‘helpful’ should come to mind. We’ve made it easier than ever to adopt the smart home, no matter what kind of system you prefer to use.”
Google Assistant is also now compatible with a few other device makers, including Nubryte and Universal Devices. Nubryte is known best for its Touchpoint, a smart touchscreen that is meant to do away with light switches. Users can not only control their lighting, but also see surveillance video, chat via intercom, and keep up with weather and calendar information by way of the device. Universal Devices also dabbles in lighting control, making it a prime candidate for Google Home Assistant integration.