Ropet: Your Next-Generation AI Robot Pet

Pet ownership is often off the table: rentals forbid it, travel leaves no caretaker, allergies intervene — and screen pets feel fake after a few taps. Ropet aims for something alive: inside a palm-sized soft body sit vision, voice and touch sensing that read your facial expressions, heart and shh gestures, and recognize objects and food displayed in its big animated eyes. ChatGPT integration gives it memory and personality; sensing low moods, it reaches out for a hug. Interaction points unlock eye blind boxes as it grows. The Stanford- and big-tech-founded team spent over two years fitting a complex robotic structure into one palm. Launched in December 2024, the project drew 1,134 backers and raised about HK$2,435,000 (~$313,000) against a HK$10,000 goal — about 24,353% funded.