Ollobot Robotics, a Hong Kong-based company, has unveiled the OlloNi SS1, an AI-powered robot pet designed to recognise family members and pets, learn household routines, and respond to emotional cues such as tone of voice and facial expressions. The device marks a shift from utilitarian home robots, such as laundry-folding machines, towards companions that build up detailed, ongoing personal knowledge of the people living with them, raising fresh questions about how much personal and emotional data households are willing to let a machine collect and store.

A standout feature is the removable "Red Heart" memory module, which is designed to transfer years of accumulated personalisation to a future OlloBot unit when the original robot is replaced, meaning the data persists beyond any single device. The SS1 uses two circular eye screens for expressions, a separate main screen for interaction, and a 4K camera with motion tracking to identify individuals and capture moments such as laughter or celebrations, which its AI-assisted "Vlog" feature can then edit into home videos with added music. The robot can also proactively approach someone it senses is feeling low, rather than waiting to be prompted.