In 2024, the AI sector witnessed a continuous stream of innovation, with a plethora of novel products that were hard to keep up with. Among the many new AI products launched over the past year, some opted for a high-end technological approach, while others chose to stand out with quirky features and humorous concepts. As the Lunar New Year approaches, we have compiled a list of the most amusing and bizarre AI products from the past year, hoping to set a light-hearted tone for the upcoming boom in AI products.
AI Cat Door Flappie, a Swiss startup, introduced an artificial intelligence-powered automatic cat door designed for pets. Equipped with motion detectors, infrared cameras, and infrared illumination night vision systems integrated into the door, this product can detect whether a cat is carrying prey home. When a cat attempts to bring prey inside, the cat door automatically locks, preventing the prey from entering.
During the cooking process, water vapor and gas are discharged from the top, while fat drips into the removable drip tray below. This reduces oil contact and makes food healthier. According to official data, the Perfecta grill can cook 3 ribeyes in 1 minute and 50 seconds, 6 hamburgers in 1 minute and 30 seconds, and 4 chicken breasts in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. “Just tell Perfecta what you want, and Perfecta can prepare a meal in a few minutes, 10 times faster than traditional cooking methods, while also saving 50% energy.
” Suraj Sudera, CEO of Seergrills, said something similar. The AI program “aiChef” built into the grill works by combining sensor data, users’ input cooking preferences, and recipes built into the software. The device can measure the starting temperature of the meat to be cooked and adjust the cooking time and temperature according to the input preferences. After cooking is completed, users can rate the quality of the grilled meat to provide data for optimizing the algorithm. An AI Companion that Can “Communicate from Multiple Angles” In 2024, an intelligent 3D head device called WeHead emerged. Different from other AI companions and AI desktop robots with similar functions, WeHead consists of 4 5.8-inch screens forming a head-like shape, capable of displaying faces, expressions, etc. WeHead has a wide range of motion. It can rotate 320 degrees horizontally and 70 degrees vertically, allowing it to make various natural movements and postures when communicating with users. In addition, it is equipped with a camera, a speaker, and a microphone, enabling real-time visual and voice interaction with users. It is reported that WeHead can adapt to different appearances, voices, and etiquettes, constantly learn users’ habits and preferences. Users can also create their own avatars and customize their appearances, voices, and behaviors. It has a very modern art appearance, but functionally, it’s unclear how it differs from video chatting on a screen. Wearable Phone At the MWC in 2024, Motorola introduced an innovative wearable phone concept product. This phone is equipped with a 6.9-inch flexible FHD+ pOLED panel and a centered punch-hole camera on the front. In the straight screen mode, it is no different from an ordinary straight-bar phone. However, compared with ordinary phones, this product contains multiple hinges and can be bent backward to different degrees. After being fully bent, it takes on an arched or tent-like shape, which can stand on the table or be fixed on the wrist with the included magnetic strap and used as a smart watch.The product also adds AI scenario recognition capabilities. It can automatically adjust the screen size and recommend applications based on the user’s location and the bending degree of the mobile phone. It can also automatically change the interface theme color scheme according to the user’s daily clothing. It is a truly multi-functional item.
AI Roller Skates: Shift Robotics, an American technology company, has launched an AI intelligent assisted roller skate called Moonwalkers X. There are 6 rollers at the bottom of the shoes, which is fewer than the 10 of the previous generation Moonwalkers. Each shoe weighs less than one pound, making the whole set relatively light and convenient for users to wear and move around. In terms of function, Moonwalkers X integrates AI technology. It can measure the stride 100 times per second, fitting the user’s walking habits more accurately to achieve accelerated walking. The sole is equipped with a 300-watt brushless motor to power the wheels, and it can adjust the speed in real time according to the walking data collected by sensors, helping users increase their walking speed to 250% of normal. In addition, when it detects that the user is going up or down stairs, the shoes will automatically lock the wheels to ensure safety. It is reported that Moonwalkers X is mainly targeted at takeaway deliverymen, couriers, warehouse workers, outdoor employees, etc. who need to walk frequently, helping them improve travel efficiency and reduce the burden of walking. It is worth noting that Moonwalkers was named one of the “200 Best Inventions” by Time magazine in 2023. The idea is indeed a good one, but the picture of takeaway deliverymen skating at high speed on the street is still a bit ahead of time. Convenient and Truly Practical: AI Baby Translator: Capella, an AI software startup, has launched an application that can “understand baby cries”. It is reported that this application can “translate” baby cries into specific demand information, such as whether the baby is hungry, uncomfortable, tired, or has a wet diaper, with an accuracy rate of up to 95%. In contrast, the accuracy rate of humans guessing baby needs based on baby cries is only 30%. The application charges $10 per month and can track the baby’s sleep, feeding, diaper changes, etc., helping parents fully understand the baby’s living conditions and take better care of the baby. It is a gospel for novice parents. AI Application for Communicating with the Deceased: South Korean developer JL Standard has launched an AI memorial service application, SoulLink. It can reproduce the voice of the deceased through AI technology, allowing users to have real-time chats and voice calls with the AI digital twin of the deceased.In addition to its primary functions, SoulLink offers a variety of other features, including the ability for the deceased to send video messages on specific dates and the option for users to take photos with the AI digital twin of the deceased. It is reported that the idea for SoulLink originated from a television program that used AI to converse with deceased family members. The target market primarily caters to those who have the need to commemorate the deceased, with South Korea being the main market, and the United States and Japan also targeted for expansion. The company plans to extend its cooperation with domestic and international cemeteries and funeral service companies.
The user experience with the clay filter in 2024 around the ‘May Day’ holiday was less than satisfactory. AI photo editing software Remini launched a clay filter, which quickly gained popularity on social media due to its unique style and topped the Chinese iOS free download charts on multiple occasions. Users simply open the Remini app, navigate to the AI filter page, upload the desired photo or video, select the ‘Clay Filter’ option, and wait for AI to generate the result. This filter can transform people in images into a clay animation style similar to Shaun the Sheep, presenting a cute yet awkward effect. Moreover, the clay filter effect is not only applicable to human photos but can also be processed on various types of images, including landscapes and objects. ‘Sawarma Saga’ has become one of the most well-known games in the country in 2024, thanks to its catchy theme song and amusing Chinese pronunciation. ‘Sawarma Saga’ is a simulation management game themed around making and selling sawarma, created by Turkish developer Eyad Alshafei and published by Patates Games. It was released on the Steam platform on July 19, 2024. The game content is quite simple; players simulate the real process of making sawarma, including cutting meat from a grill, frying potatoes, adding condiments, rolling in a wrap, and packaging. They earn coins by completing customer orders, use coins to purchase items like potatoes and drinks, and can upgrade machinery and workers to increase sawarma prices and overall restaurant standards. The reason for including it in the AI humor list is that ‘Sawarma Saga’ is a game that extensively uses AI generation technology. The game’s visuals, characters, and other artistic assets are generated by AI, the theme song ‘Sawarma Song’ and other soundtracks are composed by AI, and the game utilizes AI for dubbing in up to 14 languages, with the Chinese version featuring a Turkish accent, enhancing the game’s fun and distinctiveness, which has become the key to the game’s breakout success.Let’s speak Chinese! An AI bird-watching binocular, the AX Visio 10×32, a high-end intelligent binocular integrating advanced AI technology, has been launched by the world’s leading manufacturer of optical equipment and crystal glass. This product, worth $4,700, is equipped with a 13-megapixel built-in camera, supports 1080P high-definition video recording, and also has 8GB of built-in storage space to store a large number of photos and videos. In addition, this product has a built-in deep learning model that can identify over 9,000 species of birds, mammals, and insects through AI. It can also combine GPS data to screen possible species according to the user’s geographical location, improving the accuracy of identification. Bird watching is indeed an expensive hobby.
Conclusion: There are countless funny products, but many of them are also potential practical items. Although chasing strange trends is a common practice of updating in the tech circle, we still don’t know how long the lifespan of these products will be. Judging from past experience, few alternative concepts will turn into products with wide availability, and even fewer products can have a long lifespan. However, we are also happy to see more funny and interesting AI products emerging. After all, good ideas are always welcome. Who can guarantee that these products won’t become the next life-quality improvement magic weapons that enter thousands of households? Of course, there must be more creative AI products in 2024 worthy of being recalled. Looking back on 2024, which funny AI products do you want to nominate? Welcome to discuss in the comment section.
