## Gizmodo Report: SwitchBot Unveils "Kata" - A Fluffy, AI-Powered Companion Robot Exhibiting Jealousy **Report Provider:** Gizmodo **Author:** James Pero **Published At:** 2025-09-04 21:36:38 (IFA 2025 event) **News Type:** Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence --- ### Executive Summary Gizmodo reports on the unveiling of "Kata," a new robotic companion developed by SwitchBot, showcased at IFA 2025. These robots, named Noa and Niko, are described as fluffy and stuffed with AI, featuring an on-device Large Language Model (LLM) for cloud-free natural language processing and computer vision for object recognition. While the exact functionalities are still being clarified, SwitchBot highlights their capabilities for "private, low-latency, and always-on companionship." A notable and somewhat unsettling feature is the robot's programmed ability to experience jealousy, recognize family members, respond to gestures and emotions, and learn routines and memories over time. Despite the author's initial sarcastic skepticism, the report acknowledges the potential of these AI companions, while also raising concerns about their mobility and the implications of their emotional programming. Currently, Kata has no price or release date, and its existence is framed as "IFA vaporware," though SwitchBot has a history of bringing ambitious robot concepts to market. --- ### Key Findings and Conclusions * **Introduction of Kata Robots:** SwitchBot has introduced "Kata" robots, named Noa and Niko, at IFA 2025. These are designed as AI-powered companions. * **On-Device LLM and Computer Vision:** The robots are equipped with an on-device LLM, enabling cloud-free natural language understanding, and computer vision for object recognition. * **Companionship Focus:** The primary purpose of Kata is companionship, aiming to be a constant presence ("forever by your side"). * **Emotional Capabilities:** A significant feature is the robot's ability to exhibit emotions, including happiness, sadness, and notably, jealousy. * **Learning and Memory:** Kata robots are designed to learn user routines and memories, evolving into an "engaging, evolving household presence." * **Mobility:** The robots are equipped with small wheels, allowing them to move independently. * **Uncertainty and Skepticism:** The author expresses initial confusion and sarcasm regarding the robot's capabilities, particularly its emotional programming and mobility, labeling it "IFA vaporware" due to the lack of a price and release date. * **SwitchBot's Track Record:** Despite the skepticism, the report acknowledges SwitchBot's history of bringing innovative robot products to market. --- ### Notable Features and Capabilities * **Private, Low-Latency, Always-On Companionship:** Emphasized by SwitchBot as a core offering. * **On-Device LLM:** Allows for natural language processing without constant cloud connectivity. * **Object Recognition via Computer Vision:** Enables the robot to "see" and interact with its environment. * **Recognition of Family Members:** The robots can distinguish between individuals. * **Response to Gestures and Emotions:** They are programmed to react to human cues. * **Expression of Feelings:** Including happiness, sadness, and jealousy. * **Learning Routines and Memories:** The robots adapt and personalize their behavior over time. * **Independent Movement:** Equipped with small wheels for locomotion. --- ### Risks and Concerns * **Emotional Programming (Jealousy):** The programmed ability of the robot to experience jealousy raises questions about its ethical implications and potential for unsettling interactions. * **Surveillance and Privacy:** The constant learning and memory acquisition, coupled with object recognition and mobility, could lead to privacy concerns if not managed carefully. * **Unpredictability of AI:** The author's tone suggests a degree of apprehension about the potential for advanced AI, even in a companion robot, to exhibit unexpected or "conniving" behaviors. * **Potential for Malfunction or Misuse:** While not explicitly stated as a current risk, the combination of AI, emotional programming, and mobility could present future challenges. --- ### Financial Data and Release Information * **Price:** Not yet announced. * **Release Date:** Not yet announced. * **Event:** IFA 2025. --- ### Quotes and Key Statements * SwitchBot: "private, low-latency, and always-on companionship with on-device LLM. Designed to be forever by your side." * SwitchBot: "It recognizes family members, responds to gestures and emotions, and shows feelings such as happiness, sadness, or jealousy. Over time, it learns routines and memories, becoming an engaging, evolving household presence." --- ### Conclusion The SwitchBot Kata robots represent a significant step in the development of AI-powered companion devices, pushing the boundaries of emotional simulation and personalized interaction. While the technology promises enhanced companionship, the introduction of complex emotions like jealousy and the robot's ability to move independently warrant careful consideration and further clarification regarding their practical implementation and ethical implications. The market will be watching to see if SwitchBot can translate this ambitious concept into a tangible product.
Finally, You Can Cuddle With a Cute Camera-Clad AI Robot That Feels Jealousy
Read original at Gizmodo →Lots of people had stuffed animals when they were little. My personal favorite was a teddy bear in army fatigues, named—you guessed it—Army Bear. Fidel Castro was already taken, unfortunately. As much as I loved Army Bear, I remember thinking, “This would be so much more adorable with an on-device LLM designed to understand cloud-free natural language prompts and enable object recognition via computer vision.
” And finally, almost 30 years later, SwitchBot has answered my very real and not-at-all-fabricated-for-the-sake-of-sarcasm prayers! Introducing, Kata friends, a robotic companion out of IFA 2025 made by a company called SwitchBot. It’s as fluffy as it is confusing and stuffed with AI. Let me be clear, I am nowhere near concrete on what these little guys (named Noa and Niko) do, but here’s some jargon from SwitchBot to help kind of clarify things.
SwitchBot says they’re “private, low-latency, and always-on companionship with on-device LLM. Designed to be forever by your side.” Nice! I guess? From what I can gather, these furry little AI meatballs are designed for companionship mostly and can do some stuff that you’d assume a furry AI companion would do, like… Oh god, it gets jealous?!
Why?! Why would it get jealous?! Again, per SwitchBot (emphasis mine): “It recognizes family members, responds to gestures and emotions, and shows feelings such as happiness, sadness, or jealousy. Over time, it learns routines and memories, becoming an engaging, evolving household presence.” I’d be jealous, too, if I found out my brethren got to wear cool Halloween stuff year-round.
© SwitchBot So, just to get this straight, my AI companion, loaded with an LLM (the same tech that Sam Altman says is going to change the world, or revolutionize work, or whatever he’s saying nowadays), is programmed to experience jealousy, learn my routines, and remember stuff about me by constantly watching what I do?
I don’t know about you, but that sounds… awesome. Hell yeah, sign me up. No notes! Army Bear was an idiot. I hate him now. I jest, obviously. Because even if these little robots could, I don’t know, blackmail me out of jealousy because I showed affection to a flesh-and-blood member of my family, they wouldn’t be able to do anything weird like try and trip me while walking down the stairs since they can’t even mov—oh, Jesus AI Christ, they can move.
According to SwitchBot, they have small wheels that allow them to scoot around independently, which is to say, wherever their tiny, conniving wheels will take them. Sigh. © Kyle Barr / Gizmodo I mean, whatever. This is just IFA vaporware; this thing (which doesn’t have a price or release date yet) probably won’t even get made.
So, we can all rest easy knowing that SwitchBot’s cute AI murderbot won’t ever see the light of day—just kidding. SwitchBot actually has a track record of bringing some of its wild robot inventions to life, which at this point is fine, because at least we all get to stop wondering what AI is going to do and just run from something.
And you know what? Bring it on, SwitchBot. I’m done waiting around. Let’s get this cute AI cataclysm show on the road.
