Sharp has announced a cute new pocket-sized AI device called “Poketomo,” designed to be your smart companion for daily chats and emotional support. The device launches in Japan this November and comes in two versions: a physical robot and a smartphone app.
Poketomo has a meerkat-inspired design and can chat with you through voice or text. The robot version is about 12cm tall and weighs around 200 grams, so it easily fits in your pocket or hangs from your bag with a special pouch. The little guy shows emotions through expressive gestures and a color-changing belly light that glows when it’s happy.
Sharp built Poketomo with their own CE-LLM technology, which lets it have personalized voice conversations. The system works on the device itself but connects to the cloud when it needs to handle trickier tasks.
What makes Poketomo special is that it can start conversations on its own, remember what you’ve talked about before, recall places you’ve visited together, and gradually become a better companion as it gets to know you. It’s also designed to pick up on your emotions and offer comfort or encouragement when you need it.
The best part? You can switch between the robot and app seamlessly. All your conversations sync up, so you can chat with your robot at home and continue the same conversation on your phone when you’re out.
The Poketomo app costs 495 yen ($3.37) per month, and you can use it without the robot if you prefer. You can check out the device at the Tokyo Toy Show from August 28-31 at Tokyo Big Sight.
Pre-orders are open now for 39,600 yen ($270) through Sharp’s online store. The company hopes to sell 100,000 units by 2027, positioning Poketomo as a new kind of everyday AI companion.
In related news, Sharp has recently introduced the Aquos R10 and Wish 5 smartphones, featuring bright displays and durable, rugged designs.
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