OpenToys

Elato AI is a hardware and software project that turns a toy or plushie into a character a child or adult can talk to. A small device clips onto any toy with silicone straps or snaps onto a magnetic surface, with no sewing or tools. The user taps a button and speaks, and the device listens, thinks and answers out loud in real time without a screen. Users pick a ready made character, such as a sports commentator or a flight director, or create their own with any personality, voice or accent. The site says the voice is unfiltered and lists support for unlimited characters, and the project is described as fully open source, with firmware and tutorials published. The device connects over Bluetooth and WiFi with a hotspot option, is described as about 4.5 by 3.8 by 1.9 centimeters, and lists battery life of over seven days on standby and about six hours of active use. A separate AI Dev Kit is aimed at founders and businesses who want to flash custom firmware, run over USB C and bring their own API keys. The site shows a Kickstarter campaign and a playground for trying characters. The site lists the AI Device at $65, shown against a crossed out $129, with the first month of premium subscription free. The AI Dev Kit is listed at $45, shown against a crossed out $99, with a contact route for quotes. The site publishes no consent or content restrictions beyond describing the voice as unfiltered, and no price for the subscription after the first month.