Core Insights - The rise of AI toys is transforming the traditional toy industry, creating a new market worth billions and attracting various players to invest and innovate [2][10] Industry Overview - The AI toy market in China is projected to grow from approximately 246 billion yuan in 2024 to 290 billion yuan in 2025, indicating a significant growth trajectory [2] - AI toys are defined as toys that integrate artificial intelligence technologies, enabling interactive and personalized experiences through voice recognition, natural language processing, and emotional analysis [2][3] - The market is characterized by three main forms of AI toys: plush toys, smart accessories, and robots/dogs, with companies like ByteDance leading innovations in this space [2][3] Investment Trends - The investment landscape for AI toys has seen a surge, with 21 financing events reported in 2025, compared to 14 in 2024 and only 3 in 2023, indicating increasing interest from major investment firms [4] - Notable investments include a 200 million yuan Pre-A round for Ling Universe, a companionship robot company, and a 2 billion yuan A round for Haivivi, a brand focused on AI interactive toys [5][6] Company Developments - Companies like Shifeng Culture and Tom Cat are actively developing AI toys, integrating AI technology with popular IPs to enhance product offerings [7][8] - Haivivi's BubblePal toy has achieved sales of over 250,000 units since its launch, showcasing strong market demand for AI interactive products [6] Policy Support - The growth of the AI toy industry is supported by government initiatives, including the inclusion of "artificial intelligence+" in the government work report and local policies aimed at promoting AI integration in consumer products [10][11] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology plans to enhance collaboration with relevant departments to ensure high-quality development of the AI toy industry, focusing on product innovation and consumer safety [11]
AI玩具撬动百亿市场,多方玩家分食“蛋糕”