LAS
VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese Startup Unveils The Most Advanced
Biomimetic Affective AI Pandas
Imagine a world filled with panda cubs, where you can choose one
as your own perfect pet. They tend to you anytime you want, and
listen to you all the time. They not only understand what you are
saying, but also response to you in a way based on the personality
traits you want them to be. The more you hug, cuddle, or stroke
them, the happier they become, growing more attached to you even
during moments of loneliness or sadness. While owning a real panda
cub may be out of reach, a Chinese company is making this dream a
reality through advanced robotics.
At CES 2025, a Shenzhen-based
company Mind with Heart Robotics Co., Ltd. (known as
Wuxin) unveiled its latest product:
AnAn, an adorable bionic panda cub. AnAn reacts to
a user's touch with unique sounds based on where it's petted, owing
to its whole set of realistic and soft fur covering more than 10
tactile sensing suites. Designed with an intelligent "AI Brain",
AnAn is an ideal companion for users. This panda cub equips
with core & long-term memory and reminder functions, making it
a "personal assistant" for seniors. AnAn also comes with its
dedicated app, allowing users to personalize their panda's name,
voice, and personality while sharing stories and experiences with a
global community of "panda owners."
Apart from its cute and attractive appearance, AnAn holds
significant potential in healthcare, such as providing
companionship for elderly patients with cognitive decline, helping
reduce care costs, and improving their independence and quality of
life. In addition, the AI panda serves as an engaging and
educational companion, fostering emotional growth and improving
social skills in children. It also provides stress relief for
professionals and young individuals facing loneliness, offering the
perfect solution for those who wish to own a pet but lack the time
to care for one.
With its blend of advanced AI technology and heartwarming
design, AnAn is set to redefine the future of companionship,
offering users a unique and emotionally enriching experience.
The Business of Battling
Loneliness: A Promising Market for AI-powered Plush Toys
As aging populations and mental health issues become more
severe, the demand for loneliness reduction and psychological
support has reached unprecedented levels. Groups such as the
elderly living alone, single individuals, and socially anxious
individuals, seek understanding and empathy. Special groups, such
as patients with depression, cognitive disorders, or autism, also
have strong needs for psychological support. "In China, over 100
million people fall into these demographics, and globally, the
number shall be tragically multiplied by five," said Dr. Zhang
Jiaming, founder and CEO of Wuxin. "We firmly believe
that biomimetic AI pets with affective intelligence become
indispensable friends and personal assistants for mankind
worldwide. And AnAn can be an ideal robot to deliver
psychological support and robot-assisted therapy to global
customers."
Unlike human interactions, robots eliminate concerns about
social stigma, embarrassment, or prejudice, providing stress-free
conversations. They are also increasingly utilized in therapeutic
contexts for psychological and cognitive challenges.
Many Chinese manufacturers have also launched AI-powered plush
toys, with some companies reporting shipments of 20,000 to 30,000
units. These products primarily target young people and elderly
people seeking to alleviate loneliness by owning an AI-powered
pet.
According to market research firm Contrive Datum Insights, the
global AI toys market is projected to reach $35.11 billion by 2030.
However, Dr. Zhang believes current products fall short of
expectations. "Most AI pets on the market are overpriced, often
exceeding $1,000, with limited
realism and intelligence in interactions. Our products will deliver
'Three Highs', i.e., high cost-effectiveness, high bionic fidelity,
and high affective intelligence, to attract and benefit more
customers," said Dr. Zhang. Wuxin has partnered with
world-leading manufacturers, brand channels, and psychological and
healthcare experts to overcome key challenges in bionic
craftsmanship, cost, and production capacity, to set new industry
standards.
Ambitious Plans for 2025 Mass
Production
Industrial robots are no longer enough to satisfy the ambitions
of Chinese companies. Robots with enhanced lifelike qualities,
better communication, and interactive capabilities—especially those
designed for home environments and elder care—are emerging as a new
development trend. In the future, service and personal robots are
expected to be widely adopted in areas such as customer service,
hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, and elder care.
A complete supply chain system and supporting government
incentive policies provide convenience for Chinese companies.
Located in the innovation hub of China's Greater Bay Area, Wuxin
benefits from a robust industrial ecosystem in cities such as
Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhongshan. Government support is
also abundant; for example, Shenzhen's 2022 initiative to develop
intelligent robotics clusters included subsidies of up to
3 million RMB (~$410,000).
Dr. Zhang, who earned his Ph.D.at the University of Sheffield
under globally renowned AI & robotics experts Prof.
Noel Sharkey and Dr. Amanda Sharkey, has over a decade of experience
in robotics, AI, affective computing, and human-robot interaction.
He has led or participated in the development of more than 20
different forms of interactive robots. From 2015 to 2019, he and
his team developed the world's first biomimetic panda robot. This
robot was used in a preliminary study on the feasibility of a panda
robot with 20 dementia patients at a day care center (JCCPA in
Hong Kong), and it garnered
significant media attention in Mainland China. Currently
Wuxin has assembled a team of top-tier talent from
universities such as the University of Nottingham, CUHK and Peking
University, and has filed over 30 patents.
"Our philosophy is rooted in our belief in 3S-
'Simulation-Stimulus-Social Creatures,' meaning creating social
beings through interactive stimuli based on bionics. As a result,
all our products could be labeled as highly biomimetic and
emotionally intelligent," said Dr. Zhang. The Wuxin product line
also includes other forms, and all products will be launched in
2025.
As technology advances and demand grows, Biomimetic AI Pets with
Affective Intelligence are poised to become a ubiquitous part of
daily life, transforming from cinematic fantasies into reality.
Ambitious Chinese companies like Wuxin are making quiet yet
significant strides toward this future.
About Wuxin
Mind with Heart Robotics Co., Ltd.
Address: 1601A, 8th Building, Qianhai Excellence Financial
Center (Phase I), No. 5033 Menghai Avenue, Nanshan Street, Qianhai
Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone, Shenzhen, Guangdong
Province, China.
Media Contact
CEO Dr. Zhang: 0086-13530502919
Email: zhangjiaming@wxbionics.com
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SOURCE Mind With Heart Robotics