Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution of electronic pets, highlighting their transition from simple virtual interactions to advanced AI-driven companions that provide emotional support and personalized experiences [2][12]. Group 1: Historical Development - Electronic pets gained popularity in the late 1990s, starting with the launch of Tamagotchi in 1996, which required users to care for a virtual pet to keep it healthy and happy [4][6]. - The introduction of Digimon in 1997 added a competitive element to electronic pets, allowing users to train and battle their digital creatures, thus broadening the appeal [6][8]. - Subsequent advancements included touch screens and voice recognition, exemplified by Nintendo's Nintendogs in 2005, which allowed for more interactive and personalized pet care experiences [8][9]. Group 2: Technological Advancements - The early 2000s saw attempts to incorporate sensors and basic AI into electronic pets, with Sony's AIBO being a notable example, featuring voice recognition and the ability to learn from user interactions [12][14]. - By 2017, AIBO was reintroduced with enhanced emotional expression and personalized interaction capabilities, showcasing the potential for high-end robotic pets [16][19]. - Recent developments have led to AI pets like Vector and LOVOT, which utilize advanced AI to understand user behavior and provide emotional responses, marking a shift towards deeper companionship [17][19]. Group 3: Market Trends and Consumer Demand - The AI pet robot market has experienced explosive growth, with products that combine aesthetic appeal and intelligent interaction becoming increasingly popular [21][23]. - Modern electronic pets offer the advantage of low maintenance compared to real pets, while also providing emotional support through AI-driven interactions [21][25]. - The pricing of AI pets varies significantly based on technology used, with high-end models potentially costing thousands of dollars, indicating a market for both luxury and accessible options [25][26].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise of AI pets, particularly Moflin, and how they serve as a response to increasing loneliness in modern society, especially in Japan, where cultural and economic factors have led to a significant decline in social interactions and companionship [24][30][39]. Group 1: Product Overview - Moflin is an AI pet developed by Casio, initially sold out upon release, with prices reaching around 3000 RMB [5][29]. - The AI pet interacts through sounds and movements, responding to touch and environmental noises, but lacks advanced communication capabilities [12][15]. - An accompanying app, MofLife, tracks the pet's personality development based on user interactions, creating a sense of companionship [17][19]. Group 2: Cultural Context - The article draws parallels between Moflin and earlier electronic pets like Tamagotchi, highlighting a historical trend in Japan of creating companionship products during times of social isolation [26][30]. - Japan's economic stagnation since the late 1980s has contributed to a culture of loneliness, with a significant decline in birth rates and an increase in "lonely deaths" [31][35]. - The phenomenon of renting friends or companions in Japan reflects the deep-seated need for social interaction, even if it is transactional [36]. Group 3: Emotional Resonance - Moflin, despite its limitations, provides emotional comfort and a sense of presence, fulfilling a psychological need for companionship in an increasingly isolated world [39]. - The article emphasizes that the need for companionship is not about having a functional pet but rather about receiving emotional responses, which Moflin provides in a unique way [41].