When you hear “robot dog,” you might immediately picture Boston Dynamics’ Spot, patrolling some post-apocalyptic wasteland or, worse, wielding a submachine gun like it’s gearing up for Judgment Day. Luckily, Weilan has something much more wholesome in mind with their new BabyAlpha A2 Intelligent Petbot. The BabyAlpha A2 isn’t about global domination—it’s about cuddles, companionship, and, well, a little bit of AI-powered sass courtesy of GPT-4o.
Weilan’s upgraded BabyAlpha A2 just hit Kickstarter, and it’s here to prove that AI pets can be more than just high-tech watchdogs. Sure, this little quadruped robot looks like it’s ready for a sci-fi adventure, but instead of terrifying you with precision attacks, it wants to charm you with over 100 lifelike expressions and 40 biomimetic movements.
Because it’s powered by GPT-4o, it’ll also keep up with your small talk, and travel planning, or maybe just remind you to water the plants. Think of it as a mix between an adorable pet and a pocket-sized personal assistant—minus the fur.
Aside from playing the role of a robot companion, BabyAlpha A2 can actually keep an eye on your house, too. With motion detection, obstacle avoidance, and the ability to patrol your home like a tiny, adorable guard dog, it’s a great way to add some extra security without needing an army of robot overlords.
And it’s not all about indoor fun—this bot is fast on its feet, running 1.5 to 2 times faster than its predecessor. So, whether you need a quick photo for a family album (yes, it has a built-in camera) or just want to send a quirky video message to your family, BabyAlpha A2 has you covered.
And let’s not forget the DevQ version for all the tech tinkerers out there, giving developers the chance to push this petbot to its limits. Weilan clearly has big plans for the future of robotic pets, and BabyAlpha A2 is shaping up to be more than just a cute addition to your home—it’s an AI-powered sidekick with serious smarts.
The BabyAlpha A2 comes at a price, of course. It’s currently up for grabs on Kickstarter, but you’ll want to act fast before it sprints away at breakneck speed—literally. The DevQ version starts at US$1,099 on Kickstarter. The DevQ is the headless model because developers, geeks, and engineers thinking of tinkering with it do not need BabyAlpha A2 to have one.
As for consumers who prefer not to be creeped out by a headless mechanical creature, the regular BabyAlpha starts at US$1,199. There are other perks, but will leave it to you to explore.
Images: Weilan.
