AI Collectibles War 🤯: Rivals Clash! 💥

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AI Collectibles Rise: A New Toy Revolution
Amidst the buzz of the Consumer Electronics Show, two startups—HeyMates and Buddyo—are pioneering a resurgence of the collectible figurine market through the innovative integration of artificial intelligence. These companies are creating cutesy figurines linked to smart bases equipped with speakers and AI functionality, offering users interactive conversations with iconic figures.

Two Distinct Approaches to AI Collectibles
HeyMates, developed by Perry, represents a more established approach, having already supplied its AI-driven BuddyOS to other toy companies. The company is launching HeyMates, figurines resembling Funko Pops, utilizing RFID chips to transform them into interactive AI characters. Conversely, Buddyo, led by Yijia Zhang, is focused on supplementing existing brands, mirroring the strategy of Nintendo’s Amiibo line, aiming to maximize the potential of its existing collection and mitigate potential legal challenges.

Building a Foundation with AI
Yijia Zhang’s background in artificial intelligence—having previously worked at Google on Google Assistant—underpins Buddyo’s strategy of building a foundational AI platform. The company’s core offering, the AI Pod, utilizes NFC technology to recognize standard Amiibo bases and also offers compatible bases for Funko Pops, bobbleheads, and Labubus, reflecting a broader approach to compatibility and expanding its user base.

Personalized AI Companions
Buddyo's platform includes an app that allows users to assign names and create unique digital profiles for their characters, leveraging the AI to generate backstories and personalities, as demonstrated by the immediate identification of Stitch as a cartoon alien. This feature underscores the company’s focus on a personalized user experience.

A Strategic Nod to Established Brands
Despite ongoing questions surrounding the long-term viability of the market for AI toys, the combination of collectibles with AI presents a compelling strategy. Notably, neither HeyMates nor Buddyo have any direct connection to Funko, a company currently facing significant operational challenges, suggesting a prudent approach to mitigate risk.

This article is AI-synthesized from public sources and may not reflect original reporting.