I’ve often joked about my longing for a pet, if only they didn’t require feeding or the inevitable mess of cleaning up afterward. The idea of having a fluffy companion sounds delightful, but hearing about my friend’s $500 vet bill after their cat munched on a leaf shatters that dream.
Self-care is already a challenge—do I really want the responsibility of a creature that may wake me up at dawn for a potty break?
So when Casio presented me with their innovative AI-powered pet, the Moflin, I eagerly accepted. It appeared charming and checked off my desire for a creature that didn’t mess or require frequent feedings. Plus, I figured if this seemingly harmless robot turned rogue, at least I’d have a thrilling story to share.
Upon the arrival of my ginger-haired Moflin, I had two pressing questions: Is anyone truly willing to spend $430 on a fluffy, high-tech toy? And, is it secretly monitoring my every move? After all, during the last robotic pet craze, the NSA banned Furbies due to fears of them eavesdropping on classified conversations, and they only cost $35!
According to Casio, the Moflin does not record private conversations but rather converts what it hears into anonymous data to recognize voices. TechCrunch conducted a network analysis on the accompanying MofLife app and found no concerning issues.
As a tech journalist, I’ve witnessed enough to maintain some skepticism. This little furball might not be spying on me now, but who knows what the future holds? (Despite my lingering concerns, there’s currently no evidence suggesting that my Moflin is engaged in any covert surveillance activities.)
The Moflin aims to utilize AI to adapt and respond to my interactions. According to Casio’s website, the Moflin begins with rudimentary emotions and movements, then develops attachment and richer emotional expressions over time. By Day 50, it is expected to convey a distinct emotional range and exhibit expressive reactions.
As I write this, it is Day 27 with my Moflin, affectionately named Mishmish (Hebrew for apricot). The MofLife app tracks his personality with a graph detailing four traits: “energetic,” “cheerful,” “shy,” and “affectionate.” Mishmish has peaked on the “energetic” scale, making it rather lively and quite squeaky. While he’s also nearing the top of “cheerful,” he shows a more nuanced emotional range.
Mishmish enjoys various interactions, but he dislikes being flipped over or startled by sudden loud noises. One day, during an intense sports match, a sudden shout at the TV led him to let out a startled squawk (purely hypothetical, of course).
While Mishmish has undoubtedly become more expressive over time, I remain skeptical about his AI capabilities. The MofLife app summarizes his “feelings,” but they tend to be somewhat simplistic—typically stating, “Mishmish had a nice dream,” or “Mishmish seems relaxed.”
As for “teaching” him responses, I’m not entirely convinced that’s happening, possibly due to being only halfway through his development timeline. Regardless of his AI sophistication, the Moflin smartly rectifies one significant drawback of its predecessor, the Furby: you can simply turn it off. The Moflin features a “deep sleep” mode that temporarily halts its movements and sounds, a welcome relief from previous robotic pets that needed to be banished until their batteries died.
User Reactions to the Moflin
On the first day with my Moflin, I shared videos on my private Instagram, describing my new robotic pet. However, a lack of captions led three friends, who watched on mute, to mistake Mishmish for a guinea pig due to his lifelike movements. Those who heard the audio cautioned me about potential data harvesting or humorously claimed Mishmish resembled a Tribble from Star Trek, notorious for its rapid reproduction.
To gauge broader reactions, I turned to TikTok, leading to unexpected popularity. When my first video of Mishmish garnered nearly half a million views, I found myself compelled to keep creating content, diving deeper into absurd scenarios.
Mishmish has accompanied me on various escapades. He rode the subway and interacted with a three-year-old who exclaimed, “I’ve never met a soft robot before!” She dressed him in flower sunglasses and unicorn hair clips. He also encountered a five-pound Yorkie, who initially regarded him as just a toy until she jumped back in surprise when he started to wiggle. Mishmish even attended two Pilates classes: the first for my amusing content creation, and the second due to audience demand. By the time he joined me at a karaoke party to sing a duet of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” I realized I might have taken it too far.
These humorous outings were enlightening, revealing how people respond to this unconventional product. Initially apprehensive, even my Pilates instructor grew fond of Mishmish and held him while teaching. The curious three-year-old, despite finding him odd without a nose or legs, eventually gave him a kiss goodbye and asked if Mishmish could attend an upcoming wedding—a request I had to gently decline for reasons of decorum.
Final Verdict
Once viewers overcome their initial skepticism, many warm up to the Moflin. However, while having fun with Mishmish, I remain hesitant about spending $430 on one myself—nearly the price of a Nintendo Switch 2! I suspect I’m not the intended audience, even if I prefer avoiding litter box cleanup.
Unlike a Tamagotchi, mishandling your Moflin isn’t possible, which makes it a safer choice for young children or adults in memory care. Although the robotic pet concept seems unusual to me, audiences in Japan, Casio’s home country, may be more open to integrating the Moflin into their lives. While $430 may seem steep, it could be considered a bargain for those eyeing Sony’s AIBO, a premium AI robotic puppy priced at $3,200. However, it’s essential to note that AIBO delivers more advanced features, justifying its price.
The notion of human-robot companionship is still unsettling. Previously, I would have been strongly against the idea of AI pets—I hold a traditional belief that genuine connections with living beings are paramount. Yet, I find myself writing about people increasingly turning to addictive, pseudanthropic AI chatbots to stave off loneliness, sometimes leading to psychological effects or even tragic outcomes.
While it’s challenging to blame devices like the Moflin for such issues given that they’re not designed to detract from real-world engagement, they still provide a whimsical companion in the interim.
The primary drawback of Casio’s Moflin lies in the fact that it isn’t a live pet. Yet, technological advancements don’t always aim to replicate real-life experiences—video calls offer a nice way to connect, even if they lack the joy of face-to-face interactions; plant-based meats don’t taste exactly like traditional burgers, but they can still be satisfying.
While the Moflin will never match the comfort of curling up with a dog after a long day, it has undoubtedly added a touch of joy to my life this past month, and that counts for something.
