Casio’s Fluffy AI Robot Squeaked Its Way Into My Heart

A fluffy, guinea pig-sized robot sits squeaking on a couch while a suspicious dog named Wylie eyes it warily before barking and fleeing the room, growling.

Meet Puff, a $429 AI companion called Moflin, made by Casio—yes, the watch company. This oval-shaped fluffball represents Japan's latest answer to pet ownership without the mess. With no limbs, claws, or crucially, no butthole, Puff requires zero stinky maintenance while delivering maximum cute factor.

The device uses AI to develop unique personalities from over 4 million possible traits, responding to touch and sound with adorable squeaks and purrs. Scratch behind its "ears" and it wiggles contentedly. Shake it hard, and it emits a tearful shriek that immediately triggers guilt and protective instincts.

But real connection proves elusive. When the author breaks down crying, a real dog instinctively offers comfort, resting his chin on her thigh. "Who is this adorable little fucker?" the author's girlfriend coos at Puff, before adding, "You're going to sell it to the highest bidder, huh lil guy?"

The comfort of something real, apparently, just hits harder.