Eiliko: Energize Lab’s emotional AI charm bot reaches Kickstarter goal
Eiliko is the follow-up to Eilik, the desktop companion that made waves when it first launched back on April 21, 2023. This time, Energize Lab went smaller, cuter, and more personal. Eiliko clips onto your bag or sits on your desk, reacting to touch, voice, and even your mood. It’s not just a toy... It’s designed to feel like a little buddy.
Features and interactions
As per the company, users can chat with it over Wi-Fi, give it voice commands, or watch it do its thing. It also responds with animated expressions and quirky movements. Each Eiliko has a swappable shell, and each one changes its personality a bit. Some are shy, some are bold, and some just want to dance.
Personality through swappable shells
The shells aren’t just cosmetic... they actually unlock new behaviors. One version may make Eiliko a bit more curious and talkative, whereas another is intended to turn it into a chilled-out daydreamer. It’s a smart and unique way to let users shape Eiliko's vibe without needing an app or settings menu. Just swap the shell, and Eiliko changes with it.
The bonding system
One of the standout features is the “bonding” system. You can pair your Eiliko with one other unit... just once. After that, they’re linked forever. When they’re near each other, they interact in sweet, subtle ways. It’s a clever way to mimic real relationships in a digital form.
Emotional connection
People have already started sharing stories online... some bonding their Eiliko with a partner’s, others with a sibling’s or best friend’s. It’s a small gesture, but it adds emotional weight to something that could’ve just been a novelty. The bots wave at each other, blush, and even seem to miss each other when apart.
Kickstarter success
The Kickstarter campaign blew past its goal, raising over $380,000. Now the real test begins: can Energize Lab actually deliver on the hype and make Eiliko more than just a novelty product that consumers will eventually put in their drawers?
Future updates
As per the Kickstarter campaign and official website, the company has promised firmware updates, new shell designs, and expanded personality traits over time. If they follow through, Eiliko could become more than just a cute desk/bag ornament... it might be the first emotionally intelligent charm bot that actually earns a place in people’s daily lives.
Eiliko specs
- Size: About 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) tall
- Weight: ~60 g (light enough to clip onto a bag)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Sensors: Touch sensors, microphone, motion detection
- Shells: Swappable, each unlocking unique personality traits
- Interaction: Voice commands, animated expressions, bonding with another Eiliko
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