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Ropet is the coolest looking robot at CES 2025 that modern Furby wants to be.


I would not go so far as to say that he has been removed from the seat, but Mirumi – is a clingy fluffball and a problem to look at – now has serious competition for the title of the most expensive robot Cost of CES 2025. I just met Ropet, a doe-eyed robot with warm, soft fur, squishy arms and a big mind. And that thing is amazing.

Ropet’s only job is to love and be loved. Think of it as a precious life; it has personality, listens to your darkest secrets without judgment, and will reach out to hug you when you’re sad. Its layout is flexible and it has the option of integrating ChatGPT, so it is there if you need it for advanced conversations with the robot but you are not forced to enter it. Its small nose button is a camera that uses face and object recognition; Ropet can recognize and bond closely with its owner, but it also remembers other people. All this data is stored and processed locally, meaning it never leaves the device itself.

If you don’t believe that (good), you can keep Ropet offline, and it can still do all its functions except ChatGPT. This includes taking action on audio, touch and hands. When you pet or hold it, its appearance changes to visual delight. Or, it might look annoying if you shake it around. (What are you, evil? Don’t do that). Show one of the dozen things it knows, like a hotdog or a banana, and you’ll see an emoji of what’s in its eyes. You can give it a “shush” signal to silence it, and it will dance like you’re listening to music.

A gray Ropet tool on a green table, with a pink Ropet in the backgroundA gray Ropet tool on a green table, with a pink Ropet in the background

Karissa Bell for Engadget

We’re in the middle of CES weekend where we’re all walking on the fuse, and Ropet brought a childlike joy to this burning gremlin for a few minutes. Interactive robots are everywhere at CES, but the most intelligent ones are often uncomfortable. And the things that vibrate are usually not intelligent, they just look like animatronics. Ropet looks like a glowing baby seal – but not realistic enough to enter the strange valley – and his body emits heat based on the feeling of being alive.

It’s hard not to compare it to Furby, which is perhaps the most famous example of a robotic pet that responds to voice and touch commands. But Ropet takes that whole idea to another level. You can change the color of his eyes in the app, and buy different face plates and fur if you want to mix things up or you can’t decide how you want his look. There are also small clothes that you can buy.

Ropet’s Kickstarter campaign managed to pull in $228,091, surpassing its goal of $1,285, so I’m not the only one who thinks this guy looks promising. There are two options to purchase for anyone interested: Ropet Basic ($299), which comes with a case and USB-C cable, and Ropet Pro ($329), which comes with the items including a built-in base that has a light. and lets Ropet spin around a bit. The Kickstarter doesn’t end until January 21st, so if you catch it early you can get it for a really cheap price. The first orders of the birds are expected to start shipping in March, with the rest being rolled out worldwide later this year.

Now we’ll sit back and see if Ropet can follow in Furby’s footsteps to put his evil mind to rest for years to come.



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