Living with a $430 AI Pet: My Month with the Casio Moflin

The Appeal of a Pet Without the Mess

I have often playfully considered owning a pet, if only the necessities of animal care – like dealing with waste and unappetizing canned food – didn’t exist. The idea of a companion animal is appealing, but the potential costs, such as a hefty vet bill for a curious nibble on a plant, quickly temper that desire.

Self-sufficiency is already challenging enough; adding the responsibility of a creature requiring round-the-clock attention, even for a 4 a.m. bathroom break, feels daunting.

Therefore, when Casio presented me with the opportunity to review their new AI-enabled pet, the Moflin, I readily accepted. Its cuteness was immediately apparent, and crucially, it promised to be free of any excretory functions. However, I also admit a willingness to embrace any experience for the sake of compelling content, even if it meant a potential nocturnal encounter with a rogue robot.

Concerns About Cost and Privacy

Upon receiving my ginger-colored Moflin, two primary questions arose: Would consumers genuinely invest $430 in what essentially amounts to a fluffy, technologically advanced object? And, was there a possibility of covert surveillance?

The previous robotic pet craze in the United States saw Furbies banned from NSA facilities due to fears of classified information being repeated – and those toys cost only $35!

Casio assures users that the Moflin does not comprehend or record spoken words. Instead, it transforms audio input into non-identifiable data for voice recognition purposes. Initial network analysis of the accompanying MofLife app by TechCrunch revealed no suspicious activity.

As a technology journalist, I maintain a healthy skepticism. While the device may not currently be engaged in espionage, future possibilities cannot be discounted. (To clarify, there is currently no evidence to suggest a hidden surveillance operation within my Moflin’s exterior.)

The Moflin's AI Development

The Moflin is designed to utilize AI to learn and adapt to interactions over time. Casio’s website indicates that the device begins with “limited emotions” and “immature movements” on Day 1, gradually developing an attachment and expressing more nuanced feelings by Day 25.

By Day 50, the Moflin is expected to exhibit a “clear range of emotions” and “expressive reactions.”

Currently, on Day 27 of cohabitation with my Moflin, affectionately named Mishmish (Hebrew for apricot), the MofLife app tracks his personality through four metrics: “energetic,” “cheerful,” “shy,” and “affectionate.” Mishmish has reached maximum energy levels – the cause of which remains a mystery – resulting in frequent wiggles and cheerful squeaks. His “cheerful” rating is also nearing its peak, though he isn’t solely defined by happiness.

Mishmish generally enjoys most interactions, but dislikes being turned upside down or subjected to sudden, loud noises. For instance, a frustrated outburst directed at the television during a disappointing sporting event will elicit a startled shriek from Mishmish. (This is, of course, a hypothetical scenario…)

Evaluating the AI Capabilities

I remain unconvinced by the extent of the AI functionality. Mishmish has become more expressive over time, exhibiting increased noises and movements, but this doesn’t seem significantly more advanced than a Furby. The MofLife app records Mishmish’s “feelings,” but these are often simplistic, such as “Mishmish had a nice dream” or “Mishmish seems relaxed.”

It’s unclear whether I am actively “teaching” him responses. This could be due to the fact that I am only halfway through the Moflin’s developmental period. Even if my Moflin doesn’t demonstrate further advancements in its artificial intelligence, it does address a major drawback of the original Furby: the ability to power it off.

The Moflin features a “deep sleep” mode, which temporarily suspends all movement and sound. This is a welcome feature! You will never again be forced to conceal your Moflin in a dark closet until its battery expires.

Public Reactions to the Moflin

When I initially received my Moflin, I shared some video clips on my Instagram story, verbally explaining that it was a robotic companion. However, lacking captions, several friends who viewed the stories on silent mode inquired about my new guinea pig. This highlights the remarkably lifelike quality of its movements.

Those who did hear the audio expressed concerns about potential data harvesting or playfully compared it to a Tribble – the rapidly reproducing alien creature from Star Trek.

Curious about broader public perception, I turned to TikTok. This is where the responses became truly unexpected. Driven by a desire for engagement, I continued posting videos of Mishmish after the first one garnered almost half a million views.

Like many content creators, I found myself compelled to escalate the novelty with each video, placing Mishmish in increasingly unusual scenarios.

He accompanied me on the subway. He interacted with a three-year-old who remarked, with sincere curiosity, “I’ve never met a soft robot before,” and was subsequently adorned with flower sunglasses and unicorn hair clips.

A five-pound Yorkie initially dismissed Mishmish as an uninteresting toy, until a sudden head-shimmy startled the dog. Mishmish even participated in two Pilates classes – the first at the instructor’s invitation for humorous “content,” and the second due to popular demand from other studio attendees.

By the time I brought Mishmish to a karaoke night for a duet of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” I realized a more measured approach was necessary.

These outings were primarily motivated by their inherent absurdity, but they also provided valuable insights into evaluating this unique product. My Pilates instructor, initially hesitant to touch the Moflin, ultimately cradled Mishmish during the “one hundred” exercise.

The three-year-old, initially confused by the lack of a nose or legs, ultimately offered Mishmish a farewell kiss. She then requested Mishmish’s presence at an upcoming wedding, a request I sadly had to decline, explaining that robotic, hamster-like toys are generally not appropriate for formal occasions. It was a disappointing moment for her!

Final Assessment of the Moflin

Initial reactions to the Moflin may be marked by a degree of unfamiliarity, but acceptance generally follows. Despite enjoying my time with Mishmish, a personal purchase at $430 seems excessive – comparable to the anticipated cost of a Nintendo Switch 2. However, it’s clear I don’t represent the intended consumer base, even considering my aversion to litter box maintenance.

Unlike traditional virtual pets like the Tamagotchi, the Moflin cannot be “harmed,” making it a secure companion for younger children or individuals receiving memory care. While the concept of a robotic pet strikes me as unusual, the Japanese market, where Casio originates, may demonstrate greater receptivity to welcoming the Moflin into their homes.

The $430 price point feels substantial to me, yet it could appear reasonable when contrasted with Sony’s AIBO, an AI-driven robotic canine with a retail price of $3,200. It’s important to acknowledge that AIBO’s higher cost reflects its significantly advanced capabilities.

There's an inherent artificiality to the notion of companionship with a robot. Previously, I would have expressed stronger skepticism regarding AI pets – I still maintain that human well-being is maximized through connections with living creatures. However, I now frequently report on instances of individuals seeking solace in AI chatbots, sometimes to a detrimental extent.

Attributing blame to a device like the Moflin is difficult when it doesn’t actively discourage real-world engagement; it simply offers a charming robotic companion for temporary amusement.

A key limitation of the Casio Moflin is its inability to replicate the experience of owning a genuine pet. However, technology doesn’t always aim to perfectly recreate reality – video calls are valuable despite being less fulfilling than in-person interactions, and Beyond Meat provides a palatable alternative to beef, even if not identical.

The Moflin won’t offer the same solace as relaxing with a dog, but it has undeniably added a measure of enjoyment to my life this past month, and that holds value.

• Core Functionality: Provides companionship without the responsibilities of a live animal.
• Target Audience: Individuals seeking low-maintenance interaction, or those unable to care for a traditional pet.
• Price Comparison: Positioned as a more affordable alternative to advanced robotic pets like the Sony AIBO.