The recently held Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2025 showcased a remarkable innovation that set the stage ablaze with excitementA white robot, resembling a sleek "space capsule," glided gracefully to the center of TCL's exhibitAs its rounded head turned, the gentle blue glow from its "eyes" connected with the astonished audience, resulting in an overwhelming wave of applauseThis was no ordinary machine; it was the debut of Ai Me, the world’s first modular AI companion robot, heralded as a transformative milestone redefining smart living at home.

This moment at CES was merely one segment of a broader AI toy movement sweeping through the industryFrom imaginative products like the "AI Magic Star" introduced by Shifeng Culture, to responsive interactive pets like Ropet, and intelligent dolls that tell stories or mini robots that gauge emotions, artificial intelligence technology is rapidly redefining the landscape of toysAccording to estimates from Founder Securities, if the penetration rate of AI toys reaches between 20% and 25% by 2028, the market could exceed 30 billion yuan, highlighting a massive potential growth within what many are calling a "smart companionship" revolutionThe intertwining of technological advancements, capital influx, and rising consumer demand is propelling AI toys from novelty items to staples in homes across the nation.

The standout feature of Ai Me, shared during the CES presentation, reflects the evolution of toys from simply "moving playthings" to becoming "emotional partners." As per insights from TCL, the drive behind Ai Me's development was borne from a nuanced understanding of modern familial challenges: the rise of single-person households, the aging population, and increased parenting pressures have amplified the need for emotional companionshipThe breakthroughs in generative AI and expansive models have bestowed robots for the first time with the ability to "understand human intent." With sophisticated AI models instantiated on the device, Ai Me can not only respond to commands but learn user habits while adapting its interactive approach based on emotional context.

Industry consensus suggests that as the capacities of these AI models continue to develop, their dialogue capabilities, problem-solving skills, and emotional support functionalities can transition from online to offline experiences

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With AI toys increasingly becoming tangible representations of these advanced models, their market share is poised for significant growthFounder Securities forecasts that by 2028, the scale of the AI toy market could reach 30 billion to 40 billion yuan, should penetration rates achieve the aforementioned levels.

The marketplace is currently brimming with AI toys and affectionate robotic companions that engage users in conversation, capturing widespread attentionA celebrated product launched late last year by Yidao Information is the AI companion robot "Aixiaobanjun," aimed at children aged 3 to 10 years and boasting a suite of intelligent interactions and personalized companionshipThe leaps in technology are dismantling previous boundaries of imagination.

Shifeng Culture's "AI Magic Star," its second generation of AI toys, functions on core capabilities derived from modern AI modelsThrough a combination of targeted optimizations and desensitization protocols devised by its research team, this toy can comprehend character knowledge, a child's emotional subtleties, and meaning extraction from conversationsIt even features a continuous dialogue function to capture creative moments in real-timeParents can monitor their children's interactions through an accompanying app, transforming play into a nurturing experience.

Alongside this innovation, the shift towards modular designs, highly integrated chips, and local privacy safeguards have resulted in AI toys that encapsulate an intelligent experience within compact dimensionsAs stated by representatives from Shifeng Culture, the landscape of toy design has evolved from mere aesthetic assembly towards a holistic ecosystem incorporating AI, intellectual properties, and contextual applications.

However, amidst the heightened enthusiasm surrounding AI toys, skepticism lingersNumerous voices caution against viewing the prevailing offerings as anything more than "sophisticated electronic pets," suggesting that once the novelty fades, many could become essentially 'beautiful waste.' In response, manufacturers are placing their bets on elevating functionalities

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The keystone of successful AI toys hinges significantly on integrating AI technology deeply into safety and entertainment aspects suited for childrenFlexibility in sales channels— from digital storefronts on platforms like Tmall, Douyin, Kuaishou, WeChat, and Xiaohongshu to collaborations with social media influencers engaging in live commerce— has emerged as a crucial differentiator in a crowded market space.

TCL’s journey in developing Ai Me was fraught with challenges, primarily surrounding its modular designUnlike typical all-in-one robots, Ai Me's innovative architecture segments the robot into mobile and interactive componentsDemonstrations at CES illustrated the robot's transformation capabilities: the base integrates precision navigation for seamless household mobility, while the interactive component is equipped with a biomimetic expression interface capable of switching roles according to contexts— be it as a desktop assistant, a children’s playmate, or a security patrol unit.

This adaptable proficiency caters to the diverse and dynamically evolving demands of family environmentsEach household is unique in its emotional and functional needs; thus, modularity enables bespoke experiences tailored to individual user interactionsThis design philosophy enhances the potential for upgrades and lifecycle management, as core computing units, sensing components, and interactive elements can be updated independently.

As manufacturers strive for multi-functional integration, they are also confronted with spatial constraints inside these AI toys, compelling compact circuit designs, miniaturized power systems, and sound componentsThe trend leans heavily toward a high level of chip integration, encapsulating CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs to streamline operations, minimize external component reliance, and optimize portabilityThis engineering advancement enables the production of small-scale interactive pet toys and mini robots, alleviating spatial limitations while enhancing functionality.

Concurrent to these advancements, the selection and integration of AI models present additional challenges

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Guanghe Tong, a key player in this domain, has initiated the launch of AI model solutions aimed at the toy marketTheir strategy leverages AI models such as Daobao, capitalizing on strengths in audio/video interaction, natural language processing, and machine learning to enhance both entertainment and educational applicationsThe solution aims to utilize visual and auditory sensing alongside AI technologies to recognize human actions and emotions, learning iteratively to enrich user interactionThe low-cost, low-power consumption model introduced promises to facilitate effective mobile connectivity, overcoming the barriers of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology.

The pressing question arises as to whether the surge in AI toys can withstand the test of time and industry fluctuationsAs we move further into 2025, companies like Shifeng Culture and Guanghe Tong are witnessing stock rallies driven by the enthusiasm for AI toys, prompting both excitement and cautionAs new entrants rapidly seek to capitalize on this momentum, the critical contemplation rests on the sustainability of this market trend.

In 2024, rapid advancements in multimodal AI capabilities, alongside accelerated sector-specific applications, have emerged, producing novel collaborations between AI technology and trendy consumer goodsAccording to Zhang Xuan of CICC, AI toys uniquely embody the convergence of advanced model capabilities and traditional toy characteristicsThey successfully integrate AI-driven elements with engagement, learning, and creative play, establishing potential synergies with esteemed intellectual properties in a landscape pushing for emotional value consumption in new trends.

Notable products reflecting this burgeoning interest include ByteDance's "Flashy Bag," Shifeng Culture's "AI Magic Star," TCL's Ai Me, and the entrepreneurial venture Ropet, all of which have generated unexpectedly exemplary market traction and reveal the vast potential demand for AI gadgets in the toy sector.

Following the attention received at CES 2025, Ai Me garnered substantial user feedback praising its charming and expressive design coupled with interactive customization options

Users highlighted the robot's role not merely as a companion but as a proactive assistant within smart home ecosystems, further entrenching its position within daily family life.

With the technology framework for AI toys still in its infancy, maintaining a leading position within a dynamic arena will necessitate head companies to rapidly cultivate intellectual propertyShifeng Culture has proactively developed a broad IP partnership encompassing renowned franchises such as Pokémon and Super Wings, stating their ambitions of further entwining AI with intellectual property to produce customized products tailored to regional cultures in Southeast Asia.

"We envision AI toys evolving beyond mere companions to serve educational needs," remarked Shifeng’s representative. "With the possibility for AI to infiltrate various aspects of life, toys can become vessels for technological values," manifesting their goal of infusing traditional toys with significant layers of engagement.

Looking ahead, expectations for sales figures emphasize the nascent stage of the AI toy industry, wherein early-market releases stand to claim first-mover advantagesConfidence in the AI Magic Star's trajectory remains high among Shifeng’s leadershipSimilarly, TCL’s anticipations for the AI companionship market are fervent, with aspirations to develop Ai Me into a mainstream household necessity.

The overarching consensus within the industry manifests that the ultimate aim for AI toys is not to eclipse traditional alternatives, but to carve out an entirely new frontier centered around "emotional technology." Positioned at the fulcrum of industry evolution, AI toys may well bear witness to a quiet revolution in companionship, fueled by intertwined realms of technological progress and cherished emotional values.