Tech AI against loneliness: Asian companies lead the charge

"I believe East Asian women have the most potential, as they face high work pressure. We hope to sell 20,000 to 30,000 units globally next year," he added. Metapet, another Chinese startup, has developed AI pets modeled as a hamster, pufferfish and starfish, equipped with microphones that recognize aspects of human speech. Designed primarily for single young Japanese women, these AI pets monitor human moods and adapt their voices and gestures in response, according to the company. "We believe that Asians, especially women, tend to be more reserved and may have a greater need for this type of product compared to Westerners," said Metapet founder Yang Shilei, adding that the company plans to launch the products in Kickstarter and begin selling them in Japan as early as July. [...] There is a reason Japan is the targeted market for so many AI companion products. "I think that many countries do have similar issues, but social isolation is a very big issue in Japan," said a spokesperson for Mixi, a Japanese company that debuted an AI-powered emotional support robot called Romi at CES this year.

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Grandpa Frank said:

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This one for sale popped up on Facebook today. If I could get one with long black hair and Japanese features , I might order 2 , LOL. Be my luck the lithium battery would explode at a bad time.

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