Uncategorized

Published on June 22nd, 2025 | by Andrew Bistak

LOOI ROBOT REVIEW

LOOI ROBOT REVIEW Andrew Bistak
Score

Summary: LOOI Robot is where the virtual meets real-life!

4

Virtual meets RL


LOOI is the latest robot from @TangibleFuture that is an interactive “Tamagotchi” ChatGPT companion which, when paired with your smartphone, becomes your AI sidekick. Imagine Wall-E from the film meets Astrobot from the PlayStation 5 game but in the real-world, that is LOOI. The only caveat is that your smartphone (with the accompanying app) needs to be placed on the holder that becomes the essence of this AI robot. It’s basically giving your phone a body as not only does it interact with you but also the environment.

Given that, LOOI has its own personality that makes interacting with it so fun and it even offers wireless charging for your smartphone plus productivity tools to make your new desk sidekick practical. Interaction is via speech, touch and gesture detection and as it has caterpillar treads (aka tanks treads), this provides LOOI with movement capabilities, including obstacle avoidance.

And who is LOOI for? I would say anyone who enjoys interactive tech and whether you’re 5 or 100, LOOI has something for everyone. Everyone in my family loved LOOI!

Key Features

  • ChatGPT Integration: LOOI uses conversational AI to interact with you in a dynamic, evolving way. It’s not just reactive—it learns and adapts.
  • Smartphone Docking: Your phone becomes LOOI’s “face,” enabling expressive animations, games, and interactions.
  • Emotion Recognition: It can sense your mood and respond with empathy or humor.
  • Wireless Charging: Up to 10W wireless charging while your phone is docked.
  • Productivity Tools: Includes customizable clocks, reminders, and other desktop utilities.
  • Compact & Portable: Designed to sit neatly on your desk without taking up much space.

This little robot measures at 110 x 98 x 110mm and weighs 385 grams that makes it not only small but quite lightweight. It is powered by 6000mAh Lithium Polymer battery that is charged via the included USB-C cable. Although it looks like something that would be exploring the surface on Mars, although on a miniature scale but with the face of Wall-E and Astrobot, it makes it quite personable. If I could sum up the design with your smartphone in one word, it would be “cute” and LOOI is that.

As LOOI uses your phone’s front-facing camera, this scans for facial expressions such as smiles or frowns that allows it to interact with you. Additionally it has voice and tone detection that matches its responses to your mood, so it knows when you’re happy, sad, playful or just want to work by frowning and the more you interact with LOOI, the more it will adapt to you thanks to its memory and behaviour feedback software. Sure it’s hit and miss but it’s a clever work in progress.

The Unboxing

Setup

To setup LOOI, you first need to charge your AI sidekick, then download the app (Android or Apple) which takes up around 667MB (June 2025) and setup an account with TangleFuture who send you a verification code. After selecting permissions, you need to turn LOOI on which is achieved by a long press of the touch button on the robot which prompts the app to pair with your phone.

To attach, LOOI comes with a docking ring that sticks to the back of your smartphone, however if you have an iPhone 12+ or MagSafe case, these will attach directly to the robot. The developers ensure it comes with a wet and dry wipe for your phone, however if you have multiple phones, you will need another docking ring. If you want LOOI to be LOOI all the time, a spare smartphone would be an easy solution provided it’s not too old and compatible with the app. Wi-Fi is also a must.

Unlike some other interactive AI robots that have a charging pad, LOOI requires user input to charge via the USB-C cable that for most it not a huge issue. However, the large 6000mAh battery should easily get you through the day and when we sleep, LOOI can be charged.

For a touch of light-hearted interaction, LOOI includes a delightful selection of mini-games, and perhaps one of its most endearing features is the Dreams Explorer—a whimsical, interactive narrative centred around LOOI’s memories and origins, designed to deepen your emotional connection with the robot itself. The available games comprise LOOI Crush (a take on Pong), RC LOOI (remote-controlled fun), and LOOK Jump (a classic platform-style jumper), all easily accessible through the main interface.

Within the menu, users can monitor the battery levels of both LOOI and their own device, activate the smartphone’s camera, display the LOOI-themed clock, or delve into LOOI’s mind—a section where you can browse photos captured by the robot, revisit dreams, and expand its recognition capabilities by adding new connections, such as familiar faces. The settings tab presents an array of options including account information, control and feedback preferences (such as subtitle toggles and wireless charging controls), unit configurations for temperature (Celsius or Fahrenheit), time format selection, and a helpful guide that serves as the user manual.

Apart from that, LOOI is also a smart assistant that not only displays notifications but shows useful features like the time and weather plus it has a voice so when you ask it a question, it will respond via ChatGPT as best it can via this technology.  LOOI also has a flow on effect as it is a mood boost for you thanks to its quirky and fun nature that in turn may promote positive mental health, even knowing when you may be upset.

While LOOI is not engaged with you, sometimes it eats, draws on its screen, goes swimming, talks, makes sound effects and invites you to play a love spin game. Speaking of love, if you gently touch the screen, love hearts will be produced by LOOI.

LOOI even knows when I closed the blinds!

Need a light? You betcha!

There are a couple of caveats with LOOI in that the ChatGPT software is from October 2023 that means any information after this date is not available. At times, LOOI has difficulty hearing you if the room is quite loud with a few people talking or if the television is on. I also found that the wake-up words of “Hey, LOOI” needed a pause before you asked it a question. Also, obstacle avoidance can be a challenge in darker rooms but apart from that, this bot is a fun little companion.

Privacy

LOOI prioritises user privacy by handling key features like visual and voice recognition directly on your smartphone, keeping sensitive data local. It complies with App Store and Google Play privacy standards, requiring explicit user permissions and avoiding continuous camera or mic access. TangibleFuture also uses SSL and HTTPS encryption to secure essential data transmissions, though users should still review OpenAI’s policies for ChatGPT interactions.

Final Thoughts?

Although LOOI is still in its infancy, our little robot still has a long way to grow and that’s a good aspect. TangibleFuture should be commended on creating a fun and clever interactive robot that conveniently works from your phone and gives it the ability to move around your desk, home or office.

As I mentioned, this technology is in its infancy and with each app update, TangibleFuture continues to fine-tune LOOI and while it is a fantastic piece of interactive technology now, I can’t wait to see where this little robot will be in 6 or 12 months.

LOOI can be purchased directly from it’s developer at https://looirobot.com/products/looi-robot for $179USD (June 2025) and also Amazon https://www.amazon.com/TangibleFuture-RLIB01-LOOI-Robot/dp/B0F1YWF96K that is approximately $275AUD or 140GBP. Although pricey without a dedicated screen but I can see why TangibleFuture made it a bring your own device because that’s what it’s meant to be.

Recommended


About the Author

When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.


Related Posts



Back to Top ↑

  • Quick Navigation

  • Advertisement

  • First Look

  • Join us on Facebook




Back to Top ↑