The iMoochi are mythical animals made of plush with AI control and are intended to replace pets, especially for lonely city dwellers. With lifelike gestures and reactions, the robot is intended to be a real “emotional companion”.
Manufacturer ZTE showed several iMoochis at the MWC in Barcelona. At the trade fair stand we were already able to intensively scratch their exterior, but inside the plush toys are full of technology: the expressive eyes are actually OLED displays, the iMoochis can move their heads, wiggle their tails and even simulate a heartbeat and body temperature. So everything to make the plush companions appear as lively as possible.
The iMoochis are intended to provide emotional support for loneliness. The target group are city dwellers who are not allowed or unable to keep pets in their apartment, and therefore also explicitly young adults. Using built-in AI, the iMoochis should then react to the mood of their owners, adapt to them and learn more and more over time. This is intended to set them apart from other “virtual pets”.
Mythical creatures with different zodiac signs
The whole thing is cutely packaged and the iMoochis react to being scratched and petted. The owners can give the plush companions their own names, but there is also a backstory: The five available iMoochis are mythical creatures from a “secret forest” with different character traits (and zodiac signs). If several are placed next to each other, they also react to each other – thanks to NFC radio.
To charge, the iMoochis are placed on a “cloud” – the charging station. There are also accessories such as various items of clothing, from dresses to sports outfits. Settings can be made in the smartphone app. The five iMoochis – Cynomi, Hopami, Mimiu, Mogogo and Morin – are for now only available in Japan. The price is the equivalent of around 330 euros, but it is still unclear when the AI pets will come to Germany.
CHIP at MWC 2026 in Barcelona
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