SwitchBot’s Latest AI Gadget Might Be Its Craziest Yet And That’s Saying Something

InnovationConsumer TechSwitchBot’s Latest AI Gadget Might Be Its Craziest Yet And That’s Saying SomethingByPaul Lamkin,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Paul’s a smart home expert and the founder of the Wareable Media GroupFollow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 10:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Noa and Niko, the $700 AI companions that combine LLM processing with "empathetic" robotics. SwitchBotSwitchBot is officially launching its AI Pet companion robots, months after teasing the concept last year at IFA.The new KATA Friends range consists of Noa and Niko: soft-bodied AI-powered robot companions designed to wander around your house, react to touch, recognize emotions, remember routines, and apparently develop attachment patterns based on how you raise them.Yep… I said “raise them”. SwitchBot, who isn’t shy about pushing the boundaries when it comes to wacky smart home devices, says the robots can greet you at the door, respond differently to individual family members, sense mood changes through voice recognition and even keep a diary of shared experiences while taking photos “from their own perspective.” Under the fluffy exterior, there’s a fairly serious pile of AI tech. SwitchBot says the robots combine on-device LLM processing with local visual recognition for gestures and facial recognition, alongside cloud-based AI features for more advanced interaction. There are 12 touch-sensitive zones across the body, autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and self-charging support.It’s essentially a Tamagotchi crossed with a home robot, wrapped around a ChatGPT-style conversational system.And somehow, it still isn’t the weirdest thing SwitchBot has shown off lately.The company has spent the past year repositioning itself from a smart home accessories brand into what it calls an “AI-enabled embodied home robotics” company. MORE F...