The wave of AI is quietly transforming the landscape of the toy industry. From the OpenAI toy created in collaboration with Elon Musk's ex-girlfriend and Curio, to ByteDance's "Eye-Catching Bag," and the AI pet Moflin that has taken Japan by storm, smart toys are rapidly capturing the market at an unprecedented pace. Data shows that the global AI toy market is expected to surpass $30 billion in 2024, with an annual growth rate as high as 20%.
Currently, the AI toy market is showing two main development directions: one involves embedding AI technology into plush toys, such as Moflin and BubblePal; the other includes traditional biomimetic robotic products, like Living AI's desktop pet robot. Behind these products are not only the technological support of internet giants like ByteDance but also innovative startups like Yueran Innovation that are pushing the envelope.
Compared to traditional toys, the biggest feature of AI toys is their powerful emotional interaction capabilities. Take Moflin, for example; this AI pet, which combines the physical characteristics of a hamster and a rabbit, can adjust its emotional responses in real-time based on its environment and interactions through an embedded two-dimensional emotional expression map. The domestic AI toy BubblePal adopts a "general large model + vertical small model" dual-layer structure, achieving sales of tens of thousands of units within just two months.
It is noteworthy that the consumer demographic for AI toys has surpassed age limitations. Data indicates that the "post-2000" and "post-1990" generations have become the main force in the plush toy market, accounting for 43% and 36% respectively. This reflects a strong demand from the younger generation for intelligent emotional companionship.
However, the development of AI toys also faces numerous challenges. Issues such as hardware cost constraints, performance bottlenecks, and product maintenance need urgent solutions. Currently, most manufacturers choose low-end processors to control costs, which makes it difficult for products to fully leverage the advantages of AI large models. Additionally, high maintenance costs also affect the market competitiveness of these products.
Industry experts believe that for the AI toy industry to achieve a true breakthrough, the key lies in balancing technological innovation with cost control. Only by enhancing core software capabilities while reasonably controlling hardware costs can AI toys achieve scalable development and establish a foothold in a fiercely competitive market.
With continuous technological advancements and sustained market demand growth, AI toys are becoming an important scenario for the implementation of large model technology. This not only brings new development opportunities to the toy industry but also provides a fun entry point for the deep integration of AI technology into daily life.
