Meet Mori, a Cute Robot Mushroom That Doesn’t Really Say (or Do) Anything
wired ·
OKA, a new startup based in Cambridge and Shenzhen, has introduced Mori, an experimental robot designed to resemble a cute mushroom lamp. Standing nearly 12 inches tall, Mori uses local AI and sensors to observe its environment, reacting to human movements with animated eyes and soft sounds. Unlike traditional smart assistants, it lacks voice command capabilities for tasks like weather updates or music streaming, focusing instead on emotional connection and relaxation. The device plays nature soundscapes, guides breathing exercises, and adjusts its behavior based on context, such as staying quiet during phone calls. Privacy is emphasized through local processing of audio and video data, which are discarded after analysis, with facial recognition features encrypted on the device. The Founder's Edition is priced at $649, including a two-year subscription, while the standard edition costs $799 without subscription benefits. CEO Hua Wang aims to reconnect humans with nature by offering a companion that gives attention back rather than capturing it.
wired