Huawei Technologies in late November sold more than 10,000 units of its artificial intelligence toy, Smart Hanhan, in the first week of its release, as similar smart playthings seize a growing share of consumer spending worldwide.
Shenzhen-based Huawei’s AI-powered emotional support plush toy, which costs 399 yuan (US$57), provides a user with interactive companionship via movement recognition, voice and touch. For example, when a user asks Smart Hanhan to count sheep, it often adds playful comments or cheekily refuses to follow exact instructions.
The toy was designed to be compatible with other Huawei devices that run HarmonyOS 5.0 or later versions of the company’s mobile operating system. It also runs Huawei’s intelligent voice assistant, Xiaoyi, to provide natural conversation.
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One buyer on JD.com, who declined to be identified, posted a comment that the toy’s features were “still a bit limited”, but added that it was expected in a first-generation product.
Smart Hanhan marked the latest foray by Chinese technology companies into the growing global AI toy market.
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This market is projected to be worth US$60 billion by 2033, from US$18.1 billion in 2024, according to research firm IMARK Group. It said the AI toy trend was “particularly strong” in North America and Asia, where “high internet penetration and smartphone usage facilitate online purchases”.