Sharp Innovates Meerkat-Shaped Robot to Combat Loneliness

Introducing Poketomo: The Smart Companion to Combat Loneliness

Japanese company Sharp is set to launch its new companion robot, Poketomo, powered by AI, designed to combat loneliness, especially among women in their twenties and thirties. This cute, palm-sized robot, shaped like a meerkat, features a glowing belly that changes color to express its emotions. Poketomo is scheduled for release in November 2025, and the robot is available at a pre-order price of 39,600 Japanese Yen (approximately $270 USD) starting August 20, 2025. The Poketomo smartphone application is also available with a monthly subscription of 495 Japanese Yen (approximately $3.37 USD) Source: Gizmochina, Source: Sharp Press Release.

Poketomo's Design and Smart Features

Poketomo combines attractive design with conversational AI, and seamlessly synchronizes with a smartphone application to maintain a continuous relationship with the user. This pocket-sized companion is about 12 cm (4.7 inches) long and weighs about 200 grams (7 ounces), making it easy to carry in a pocket or attach to a bag. It can chat with you about your day and remember shared experiences thanks to Sharp's proprietary CE-LLM (Communication Edge - Large Language Model) AI technology, which integrates AI capabilities into edge devices and leverages cloud AI when needed Source: NotebookCheck, Source: Sharp Press Release.

The robot expresses excitement or comfort by glowing its belly in pastel colors and tilts its head slightly when thinking. It also possesses a set of basic physical movements designed to convey emotions. The core of Poketomo lies in its integrated AI model, which provides quick responses and uses cloud computing for more precise emotional understanding.

Empathic AI and Emotional Communication

Sharp strongly focuses on the concept of "Empathic AI." Poketomo is supposed to sense emotional cues and use them to initiate conversations based on your mood or recent behavior. It is programmed to offer words of encouragement and support, then glows softly to let you know it's happy to share. Poketomo's development comes from the same team that launched the communication robot "RoBoHoN" in 2016, which aimed to deliver a "phone that moves your heart" Source: Sharp Press Release.

When the physical device is not with you, the Poketomo application synchronizes memories and personality data with the device, so conversations transfer from one to the other. Sharp notes that you can build your entire relationship with the application if you prefer, but they are betting that the physical version is better, and people will carry it, interact with it, and form an emotional bond around it.

Promotional Campaigns and Emotional Impact

To reinforce this idea, a promotional manga series was released, centered around a woman named "Nanami," in her late twenties, living alone and facing work and life pressures, who finds small moments of happiness in her conversations with Poketomo. Promotional images also often show a young woman carrying Poketomo attached to a stylish handbag, smiling as it talks to her. This manga series began on August 1, 2025, and is available on Sharp's official X account (@poketomo_sharp) Source: Sharp Press Release.

Questions and Poketomo's Future

The article raises an important question about whether this designed emotional warmth will make people truly feel better in their lives, and if they will feel less lonely because of a small robot equipped with advanced response triggers. The writer notes that the robot does not try to be human, which avoids subconsciously deceiving people into believing they are talking to a real person, but it might make some uncomfortable. The writer also wonders if the best new idea in consumer AI is to "make it cute and let it ask about your day," and what that means about the limits of technology. The writer believes that Poketomo will not be a cure for loneliness, but it might spark a breakthrough in the direction of digital pets capable of simulating emotional depth. Sharp plans to sell 100,000 units of Poketomo by 2027 and considers it a new everyday AI companion Source: Gizmochina. Poketomo will also be showcased at TOKYO Toy Show 2025 from August 28 to 31 Source: Sharp Press Release.