The Mixi Romi Lacatan, a conversational AI robot, has been recognized as a CES 2025 Innovation Awards Honoree. This new model from Mixi introduces a variety of AI-enhanced features, allowing it to see and engage in discussions about its environment. It serves as a daily companion for individuals who may be feeling lonely, such as singles and hikikomori who lack pets, friends, or family.
The Evolution of Romi
Originally introduced in 2021, the first Romi aimed to "heal like a pet and understand like a family member." During the COVID-19 lockdowns, many felt isolated and considered getting pets but were hindered by living conditions that prohibited pet ownership. Romi addresses this gap by offering daily conversations in either English or Japanese, along with programmable alarms to help wake up sleepy users.
New Features in the Latest Model
The newest version of Romi includes four advanced AI features. It can now remember previous conversations, events, and experiences due to its long-term memory supported by cloud storage. Conversations flow more naturally, adapting to the pace of the human speaker, even if they are interrupted. Additionally, the robot's voice can be customized to match the owner's preferences, and it has the capability to perceive its surroundings and incorporate that information into its discussions.
Enhanced AI Capabilities
Among its other features, Romi Lacatan integrates OpenAI GPT-4o in assistance mode, allowing it to offer detailed responses, such as cooking recipes or complex scientific explanations. This mode also lets users set the robot to one of three scenarios—business, teacher, or pretend play—helping it provide contextually appropriate replies, like how to write a professional email or how a cow might sound. Users can even program additional role-play responses using the Scenario Editor.
The Romi Lacatan is priced at an MSRP of 89,800 yen (approximately $580), with a monthly AI services subscription fee of 1,780 yen (around $12). Preorders are being accepted at the Romi shop for delivery planned in Spring 2025 within Japan.
Alternatives for Moving Companions
For those seeking a robotic companion that can physically move, options such as the Sony Aibo or Loona AI dog are available on Amazon. Attendees of CES 2025 can see Romi Lacatan live from January 7 to 10 at the Romi booth in the Venetian Expo, Halls A-D – 52673.
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