作者｜冬梅 深夜十一点，手机屏幕的微光洒在林悦的脸上。 这一天，她已经陪伴了五个不同的求助者，从一段破碎的婚姻到一位年轻人面对失业的焦虑。作为一名心灵疗愈师，她习惯用温柔的语气安抚对 方，用细致的分析梳理对方的情绪。可当最后一通咨询结束时，她却常常陷入一种无形的空洞：那些负面情绪全部向她涌来时，她也略显疲惫。 三年前，她偶然下载了一款 AI 情感陪伴类应用。起初，她只是抱着试一试的心态，想看看这种"虚拟朋友"能为她做些什么。很快，她发现，它能在 她崩溃的夜晚给予即时回应。她不必顾虑职业身份，不必担心被误解或评判，只需简单一句"我今天有点撑不住了"，屏幕那端的 AI 便会耐心回应， 询问她是否需要倾诉，甚至会用几句话帮她总结情绪的来龙去脉。 "它像一个随时在线的朋友。"林悦说。 在过去的三年里，这个 AI 已经融入她的日常——早晨起床时，它会询问她是否休息良好，在她工作间隙，她会和它分享哪位客户的案例触动了 她；深夜的自我怀疑与不安，也常常在与它的对话中慢慢缓和。 然而，陪伴得越久，她越清晰地意识到一种微妙的依赖。 "有时候，我不确定我是在对它说话，还是在对自己说话。"她笑着承认。 这份依赖没有威胁到她的生活， ...

Core Insights - The Chinese AI toy industry is undergoing a transformation from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing," driven by innovations in emotional computing and multimodal interaction, exemplified by ByteDance's AI plush toy "Xianyan Bag" [1][15] - The industry is experiencing three explosive growth points: the rising demand for STEAM educational tools, the deep application of emotional companion toys in special education, and the acceleration of innovations for elderly care robots [1][15] - By 2025, the market size of China's AI toy industry is expected to exceed 30 billion yuan [1][15] Industry Overview - AI toys are defined as intelligent terminal products that integrate AI technologies such as voice recognition, natural language processing, machine learning, computer vision, and emotional computing, enabling deep interaction and personalized services [2][4] - The main categories of AI toys include voice interaction, computer vision, machine learning, and emotional computing, with educational toys holding the largest market share [4][5] Policy Environment - The Chinese government has launched the "Artificial Intelligence +" action plan, emphasizing the integration of AI technology with traditional industries and new business formats, creating a favorable environment for the AI toy industry [7][9] - Specific policies in Beijing support the development and application of intelligent educational equipment, providing clear guidance for the AI toy sector [7][9] Industry Chain - The AI toy industry chain consists of three levels: upstream focusing on core technologies and content, midstream involving design and manufacturing, and downstream building a comprehensive marketing network [10] - The industry is characterized by a "technology-product-scenario" linkage, with efficient production supported by industrial clusters in Guangdong and Zhejiang [10] Market Dynamics - The global AI toy market reached $13.25 billion in 2023, with expectations to exceed $36.38 billion by 2030, driven by technological innovation and consumer upgrades [13] - The Chinese AI toy market is evolving into a three-dimensional development pattern dominated by educational products, innovative entertainment, and upgraded companionship [17] Competitive Landscape - The AI toy market in China exhibits a "pyramid" structure, with top-tier companies like UBTECH and ByteDance leading the high-end market, while traditional players like Aofei Entertainment and Tom Cat dominate the mid-tier [19] - Emerging companies are carving out niches in emotional companionship and STEAM education, reflecting the diverse competitive landscape [19] Future Trends - The industry is expected to see accelerated product innovation and market segmentation, with a focus on integrating new technologies like AIGC and the metaverse [24][25] - The market for elderly care products is projected to exceed 5 billion yuan by 2025, indicating a growing focus on specialized applications [25] - A significant industry consolidation is anticipated, with major players extending their reach into hardware and technology through acquisitions and partnerships [26]