Ludens AI Companions CES 2026: Cocomo and INU Prioritize Presence Over Productivity

Do you want AI that manages your schedule, or AI that simply lives with you? At CES 2026, where every brand is racing to integrate AI into your home, Japanese startup Ludens AI is betting on the latter. According to Mashable, their new companions Cocomo and INU aren't designed to clean your house or replace your phone—they're built to be present.

Ludens AI Companions CES 2026: A New Era of Relational AI

The more ambitious of the duo, Cocomo, is an everyday robot companion that evolves its personality through shared routines. As reported by Engadget, it features 10 degrees of freedom and utilizes expressive digital eyes along with multi-sensory interactions. Instead of following explicit commands, Cocomo grows with the user, ensuring that no two units share the same behavioral patterns over time.

INU: The Minimalist Desktop Alien Dog

In contrast, INU is a smaller, more contained concept. Marketed as a 'desktop alien dog,' it's designed to sit with you while you work, reacting to voice and proximity with playful sounds and movements. Its appeal lies in its restraint; it doesn't try to do everything, focusing solely on being a charming desk companion.