Sharp Introduces Poketomo, a Pocket-Sized AI Robot Built for Real Conversations

Japanese tech maker Sharp has unveiled Poketomo, a pocket-sized AI robot designed to feel less like a gadget and more like a personal companion. The meerkat-inspired device, roughly 12 cm tall and weighing about 200 g, is small enough to slip into a pocket or clip to a bag, but packed with expressive personality and conversational ability.

At its core, Poketomo uses Sharp’s proprietary CE-LLM artificial intelligence, which blends on-device responsiveness with cloud-based memory and learning. This means the robot doesn’t just respond to your words — it remembers what you’ve told it and can bring up past experiences in future conversations, like asking whether you returned to your favorite coffee shop.

Unlike traditional chatbots that live behind a screen, Poketomo interacts through voice and physical expression. It tilts its head, moves its arms, and illuminates a series of LED lights on its belly to convey mood — rainbow hues for playful excitement, more subtle glows for reflective moments. A built-in microphone and speaker let it carry on natural back-and-forth dialogue.

Poketomo is meant to be more than a reactive assistant. It initiates conversations, asks about your day, encourages you when you’re down, and shares friendly banter about everything from weather to hobbies. 

A companion smartphone app ensures that your chat history and memories sync between the robot and your phone, so your “friendship” continues even when the robot isn’t physically with you.

The robot launched in Japan with pre-orders earlier in 2025, retailing around 39,600 yen (about US $270) and offering optional cloud-linked subscription plans that grant access to its conversational memory features.

While its cute design and empathetic AI may evoke a toy, Sharp positions Poketomo as part of a broader trend toward emotionally intelligent companions — devices that aim to fill social gaps and offer small moments of connection throughout the day.