The AI Tamagotchis are coming
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What's this about?
While AI has made plenty of inroads on people's phones and computers, it's largely failed in dedicated devices. But over the next year, two major AI companies, Meta and OpenAI, will attempt to change that. And they're apparently betting on a similar path: testing appetite for physical hardware with
The one-panel cartoon
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A child-sized robotic petting zoo featuring AI-powered Tamagotchis, with children and adults alike looking bewildered and holding malfunctioning, glitchy devices.
Caption: They thought the smartphone market was too crowded.
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Based on the original story on theverge.com.
Editor's note
The push by Meta and OpenAI to develop AI-powered physical devices like Tamagotchis signals a significant shift in how we interact with artificial intelligence, moving beyond digital interfaces into tangible, everyday objects. However, this move raises important questions about the environmental and economic costs of producing and disposing of these devices, especially given the track record of similar tech gadgets.
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Panel 1
*A cluttered inventor’s workshop. Alex, wearing a lab coat and safety glasses, is fiddling with a circuit board and wires. Sam, in a button-down shirt, stands nearby, arms crossed and skeptical.* Alex (excitedly) Sam (dryly)
Alex: Imagine, Sam! The next big thing in AI: Tamagotchis that can chat and make jokes!
Sam: And you're building this in a corner of your garage?
Panel 2
*The same workshop. Alex holds a prototype Tamagotchi with blinking lights and a small screen. Robin, in a hoodie and sneakers, bursts into the room, eyes wide.* Robin (bursting in) Alex (nodding enthusiastically) Sam (skeptical)
Robin: I heard about this AI Tamagotchi thing! It’s like having a digital pet, but smarter?
Alex: Exactly, Robin! And it’ll be a game-changer.
Sam: In the same way that a pet rock was a game-changer.
Panel 3
*Alex, Sam, and Robin are huddled around the prototype. Alex presses a button, and the Tamagotchi screen lights up, showing a simple face. It says, * Alex (beaming) Tamagotchi (in a robotic voice) Sam (deadpan) Robin (grinning)
Alex: Hi, I’m your AI friend. I can predict your mood.
Alex: See, Sam? It's not just a toy. It’s the future!
Tamagotchi: And I predict that you are about to be disappointed.
Sam: Predicted that one.
Robin: So, is it smarter or just better at being a buzzkill?
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