If you're an avid follower of fashion, you'll know that bag charms are having a moment right now. Most of these charms are gold chains with an assortment of shiny trinkets attached. But what if you want to join in with the trend while standing out? Consider this: A baby robot sloth I got to see and which I've now clipped to my bag to add flair and reduce stress throughout CES 2025, one of the world's largest technology shows.
Mirumi, from Japanese company Yukai Engineering, is a fuzzy little robot that clings to the handle or strap of your handbag and steals glances at passersby as you go about your business. Why? To spark joy, of course.
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At first glance, it seems that Mirumi is a fairly simple robot with just a rotating head. Spend a few minutes interacting with it though, and it becomes clear that there's more than meets the eye to the furry creature. It doesn't just move at random -- instead it uses an internal sensor that scans its surroundings for people or objects, and once it spots something, it will focus on the thing or person that's piqued its interest. Mirumi initially seemed interested in me, but when I tapped it a little too hard, it moved its head away bashfully.
The cute robot scans for people and objects to interact with its human companion.
Yukai Engineering says that the robot was inspired by the feeling of making eye contact with a cute baby in public. But the first thing I thought of, as Mirumi wrapped its arms around my wrist and peered out at me from behind my hand, was an encounter I had with a meerkat dressed as Donald Duck that was perched on a man's shoulder at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. Because of this experience, I can fully appreciate the memorable and joyful spark of spotting unexpectedly encountering a cute creature in public.
If you're interested in making a fashion statement and you believe that fashion can be fun, Mirumi is absolutely the accessory for you. Supposedly it's designed to mimic the cuteness of a human baby, but take one look at this robot and tell me it doesn't remind you of a sloth. It'll be available later this year via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for less than $100.
For more coverage of CES 2025, see how this AI-powered planter can help you develop your green thumb, or learn all about Nvidia's new gaming chips.