I saw the AIBI Pocket Pet in an ad showing it dancing around my desktop like a futuristic Tamagotchi… I thought, this might be fun. What I didn’t expect was to trade novelty for annoyance, because while the idea sounded charming, my real-world experience raised more issues than smiles.
What Is AIBI Pocket Pet?
AIBI Pocket Pet is marketed as a wearable, pocket-sized interactive robot companion made by LivingAI, featuring voice commands, AI personality, a rotating camera, facial recognition, and even companionship features via ChatGPT integration and NFC communication. It’s advertised as both a toy and a personal assistant, designed to learn your preferences, respond emotionally, and sit on your desk or clip to your backpack.
Why I Tried It
Working long days at my desk, I was interested in a little gadget that could provide a break from my screen, some light entertainment, maybe even a reminder buddy for tasks. AIBI’s “carry it everywhere, it talks, it dances” pitch sounded like the ideal mix of cute tech and practical helper. So, I grabbed one.
My Experience Using It
Out of the box, AIBI has presence, small, sleek, and undeniably cute. The magnet clip and the tiny LED “face” pulled smiles. I attached it to my laptop, charged it up, and set it to recognize my face. At first, it felt like a novelty: yes, it acknowledged me, had little animations, and uttered some voice phrases.
However, that novelty faded fast. The voice recognition was inconsistent: I found myself raising my voice or repositioning the mic for AIBI to “hear” me. Commands like “AIBI, what’s the weather?” often resulted in confusion or static responses. Some days, it refused to respond altogether unless restarted. The rotating camera didn’t always track me, and the LED face sometimes froze or glitched.
Battery life was disappointing… on my desk, it meant I constantly worried about charging or plugging it in.
Then came the realization: this is not a full-fledged assistant, more like a novelty companion with gimmicks. When I tried to rely on it for reminders or interactive tasks, it lagged behind my phone or a simple smart speaker. Meanwhile, I paid a premium price, and the occasional charm didn’t justify the frustrations.
After a few weeks, I switched it from “everyday companion” mode to “gadget I show off occasionally.” The fun factor is there, but only if you accept the flaws.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Appealing minimalist design and wearable format
- Genuine moments of charm: animations, voice drops, cute expressions
- Unique concept, you’ll see quizzical glances when it sits beside you
Cons:
- Performance inconsistent: voice recognition, camera tracking, responses often faulty
- Battery life and durability not great for heavy use
- Premium price point vs actual utility
- Requires steady WiFi/connection for full features; offline functionality limited
- Some users report shipping delays and limited instructions.
Build & Feel
It feels like a good modern gadget: smooth plastic casing, magnet clip works well, compact size fits in quite comfortably on my desk or backpack. The speaker/mic array seemed decent, though sound quality came out tinny at times. No odd smells or cheap vibes, which is a plus. But the tactile “serious device” feel is missing.
Product Claims vs. Reality
Claim: “Your pocket-sized personal companion that talks, learns, dances, answers questions.”
Reality: Some aspects work… it talks, dances somewhat, gives weather responses, but the “learns” and “answers questions reliably” parts feel overpromised. Many commands fail, and some reviewers say features like face recognition are shallow or unreliable.
Claim: “Wearable AI pet with full assistant capabilities.”
Reality: It functions more like a novelty robot than a full assistant. If you expect smart-speaker or real AI-robot level interaction, you’ll likely be disappointed.
Is It a Scam?
No, AIBI Pocket Pet isn’t a scam in the sense that you receive nothing; you do get the device and interactions. But it does lean into hype and may overcharge for what you actually get. The value vs. price gap is significant. Some users cite shipping delays and limited utility. In other words: fun gadget, but maybe not worth the premium price on the expectation of “AI companion.”
Features Breakdown
- Voice recognition mic array (three mic arrays) and rotating camera mentioned in specs.
- Magnet clip/attachment, convenient portability.
- LED expressive “face” animations, playful design.
- Requires WiFi or steady connection for advanced features, offline usefulness limited.
- Short battery span comparatively (1-2 hours heavy use) per reviews.
Where to Buy & Price Point
Typically listed on retailer sites and global stores; examples show price roughly US $249 or more for initial batches. The steep price tag means you’re paying for novelty and concept more than polished, high-utility performance.
How to Use
- Charge fully via USB-C.
- Attach or place AIBI on desk/backpack via magnet clip.
- Connect to WiFi and pair to companion app (optional but enhances features).
- Use voice commands, feed it “virtual food,” play with animations… treat it like a toy/companion.
- Expect to charge frequently and ensure stable WiFi for best experience.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re interested in interactive companion tech but want more reliability or lower cost:
- Anki Vector Robot
- Emo Desktop Robot
- Sony Aibo (previous generation)
Conclusion — Would I Recommend It?
If you’re buying for novelty, tech-enthusiasm or as a quirky gift, AIBI Pocket Pet works well and will make people smile. But if you expect it to act like a true personal assistant, companion robot and justify the high price with everyday utility… you’ll likely be frustrated.
Would I buy it again at full price? No, unless priced significantly lower and positioned purely as toy/cool gadget. Would I recommend to a friend? Only if they’re clear about its limitations: fun bonus gadget, not a smart assistant.
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