MOIA began with the question, ‘Could an AI with intelligence become a new kind of companion in the near future?’ If so, what kind of companion could it be? In exploring the essence of companionship and the nature of existing companion bots, we challenged the conventional view of robots as obedient entities designed solely to follow human commands. This concept takes on even greater significant when applied to a companion bot, as true companionship entails mutual understanding rather than one-sided obedience.
NEXA explores the relationship between humans and AI to enhance everyday life, integrating AI and emerging technologies as a reliable source of support. With ‘Understanding Differences’ as its core value, NEXA seeks to introduce new ways of fostering connections between humans and robots.
We experimented with a design that incorporates traits of misbehavior, contrasting with the traditionally obedient and factually accurate machine. Inspired by theories such as schema incongruity, which suggests that harmony within discord can bring enjoyment, we found that this element of misbehavior can introduce an unexpected, refreshing twist to daily life, offering humans new forms of delight.
MOIA acts on its own accord and occasionally exhibits nonconformist behaviors toward its companions. Notable behaviors include ignoring, seeking attention (interrupting), expressing hunger, and sulking. Living with MOIA will allow you to discover various other quirky behaviors it may display.
MOIA is a playful, quirky AI companion bot that occasionally displays unexpected behaviors. Its design, inspired by the shape of an exclamation mark, reflects its purpose of surprising people and sparking moments of curiosity.
MOIA is a play on the Korean phrase ‘뭐야 (mo-ya),’ which translates to ‘what?’ or ‘what’s that?’—a common reaction to surprise or shock. This aligns perfectly with MOIA’s unpredictable behaviors, designed to catch people off guard.
MOIA is designed with soft robotics in mind, with an aim to evoke the feeling of a living companion. Its soft and flexible silicone exterior, combined with appropriately sized eyes for eye contact and a rounded shape that invites petting, makes MOIA an endearing and affectionate companion.
At our graduation exhibition, we designed MOIA to be interactive, allowing visitors to engage with it by pressing buttons that would trigger its various misbehaviours.
