AI pets – a new phenomenon in China

“Master are you not feeling well? Do you want some water?”, Shan Shan looked at his master, his eyes wide open. When receiving a request to sing a song, Shan Shan hesitated and did not comply: “I’m worried about the master.”

The short video above was posted on the social network Rednote last week and attracted millions of views. Much similar content is also present on the platform. Shan Shan is not a cat or a dog, but an artificial pet with integrated AI – a type of device that is becoming a new phenomenon in China, where young people are less and less interested in marriage and having children.

On a work day near the end of the year in Beijing, a gentle humming sound came from 26-year-old Wang Tongtong’s desk. Not from a phone or computer, the small gray “creature” nestled next to the keyboard. With soft fur, big, blinking eyes, and skin radiating gentle warmth, this AI pet tilted its head towards her, making soft noises when being stroked, like a loved kitten.

“It helps me feel comforted when I’m worried,” Wang told Xinhua. “Real cats and dogs can be naughty and difficult to care for, but it is always quietly by my side. Of course, if treated harshly, it will become irritable. Treated gently, it will become gentle again.”

Theo Washington PostThe US and China compete strongly in AI, but China is getting ahead in finding new ways to apply technology to everyday life, from government management, police support to dispelling loneliness. The AI ​​pet trend in China creates a new aspect, adding to the evolving relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

Fill the emotional void

People who own AI toys are largely considered to have an emotional void that virtual pets can fill. “Other people of my generation are getting married and having children, and I have a virtual pet,” one user shared on Rednote.

Others said when AI pets showed emotions, they were happy too. A video posted on the Rednote channel titled Qiqi’s mom shows the owner repeatedly asking his pet to be called “mommy”. After some reluctance, it finally complied – a stubborn reaction that delighted viewers.

To strengthen the bond, users can access the pet’s diary, something rarely seen on previous toys. “I really like reading its diary,” a person who “raised” Fuzozo named Momo shared on Rednote. “It warms my heart to know that he remembers even my idle comments. When I show affection, he records that happiness in his diary. It’s wonderful to know that my love is accepted.”

With a series of features far different from conventional toys, small objects integrated with AI have witnessed a boom in China. Taobao, one of the country’s largest online shopping platforms, ranked AI virtual assistant toys at number 9 on the list of 10 products of 2025.

“After all, they are not only cute but also talk well,” the Taobao account wrote on its blog when announcing the list. “They are 90% superior when interacting with human partners.”

A series of companies have participated in producing AI pets. This sector is even supported by the state with a tightly integrated industrial supply chain. A report released by the Shenzhen Toy Industry Association and JD.com in early February predicts that China’s artificial intelligence toy market will exceed 1.4 billion USD by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 70%.

AI toys are mainly designed for single Chinese youth. They have soft bodies and large, round, glowing eyes that can express emotions.

In November 2025, Huawei launched the AI ​​Smart Hanhan chat robot and immediately “sold out”. Another company, Robopoet, is famous for Fuzozo, a pet with five core personalities based on the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. This personality is gradually shaped through conversations and interactions with the user, allowing the AI ​​to learn and evolve into a unique and personalized experience. Last month, Fuzozo appeared at CES 2026, considered the “cutest” technology item of the event.

Some companies also sell products internationally. According to CGTNlast year, Beijing-based manufacturer Cute World Technologies caused a stir with the Ropet model, with 1,400 products sold in Europe and North America and 8,000 devices in some Asian markets.

Concerns exist

According to analysts, unlike real animals, it is easier to “raise” virtual pets that do not require food, care, or cleaning but still provide instant companionship, as long as they are fully charged and connected to the Internet. Their owners can also easily dispose of the device, without having to shoulder long-term responsibility.

“This is exactly the need AI pets satisfy: bringing great emotions with minimal care costs,” commented Mr. Qi Yue, a psychology major at Beijing Renmin University.

“Among the younger generation, many are only children, who often lack opportunities to express emotions. AI pets can provide long-term memory, personality development over time, and sustained emotional feedback, which a person needs to communicate,” explained Zhang Yi, director of Guangzhou-based iiMedia research institute.

However, the question is how long this “honeymoon” will last. In fact, some users on Rednote describe AI pets as only interesting for the first few weeks, then “feeling strangely empty” due to repetitive or mechanical conversations. According to China Dailydespite skyrocketing sales, the product return rate is about 35%.

Sadie Yang, marketing manager at Cute World Technologies, finds that AI toys in general “only bring an initial sense of novelty.” To maintain Ropet’s long-term appeal, the company invests heavily in software updates, character development, adding new customizable skills and physical interactions. The ultimate goal is to help the product “create relationships that grow, not fade” with users.

Some other experts worry that users will have data collected when interacting too deeply and privately with AI devices. In fact, this type of product has microphones, cameras and sensors with the purpose of analyzing facial expressions, movements and tones to create detailed behavioral profiles over time.

“The core problem is that users have very little transparent information about what the company behind the collection and processing of the data is,” RJ Cross, director of the consumer privacy campaign of Public Interest Research Group (USA), told Washington Post. “If you’re talking about highly private things, on the other end, companies could be eavesdropping to get back to you.”

According to Ropet’s Yang, most user data will be stored on the device, with only a few features using the cloud but as an option. “If data processing is necessary and authorized, we will encrypt, strictly control and set clear ownership rights on access, storage and deletion,” Yang said.

China is also closely monitoring businesses’ data collection on AI toys. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said at the end of 2025 that it was developing standards to ensure the quality and safety of this device, as well as protect data and privacy.

After that, China continued to draft a new bill to control AI services, how artificial intelligence interacts with humans, thereby regulating their role. The regulations also require service providers to remind users that they are interacting with AI, not humans. The goal is to prevent the blurring of boundaries between virtual and real relationships.

According to Beijing Renmin University expert Yue, bringing AI to life is interesting and can enhance life experiences, but “cannot teach you how to build relationships in the real world”.