Overview: What Is INU?
INU (pronounced "ee-noo", Japanese for "dog") is a desk-sized companion robot developed by Ludens AI. It was designed together with Yukai Engineering.
It is built around the idea of simply being nearby for people who are tired of AI that wants to do things for them. The focus is comfort, not task completion.
Despite the name, INU is not a four-legged dog robot. It is a soft, elongated body with a single blue eye and a tail, closer to a plush creature than a pet. Engadget reports that the company itself describes INU as a "desktop alien pupu."
Ludens AI's other robot, Cocomo, moves around the home. INU is smaller and meant to stay on a desk.
Key Points
What is INU?
- A desk-sized AI companion robot from Ludens AI
- About 7 x 7 x 20 cm and about 500 g
- Expresses emotion through an eye display, sounds, and head, neck, and tail movement
- No camera. A mmWave radar and a touch sensor detect presence and touch
- Basic reactions work without an internet connection. It does not speak human words and conveys feelings through its eye expressions, sounds, and gestures
- Crowdfunding on GREEN FUNDING and Kibidango is live (started at 16:00 JST on October 16, 2026; open until 23:59 JST on November 29)
- Planned retail price is 39,800 yen (tax incl.); crowdfunding starts from 29,800 yen (Super Early Bird, limited to 50 units), with delivery in batches from around February 2027
Strengths
- Camera-free presence detection may appeal to privacy-minded buyers
- Basic reactions work without an internet connection, so data handling is easier to understand than for cloud-dependent robots
- Light enough (about 500 g) to carry in a bag to a cafe
- A Magic Key on the body turns off all sensors
Concerns
- The planned retail price may change depending on production volume, market conditions, or spec changes
- Music-synced dancing and recognizing the person who speaks to it are described as planned
- There are no hands-on buyer reviews yet
- As a crowdfunding project, delays and spec changes are possible
Who it may suit
- Remote workers and students who want something present on the desk
- People who like the idea of a companion robot but dislike cameras or cloud dependence
- Early adopters willing to back a new robot through crowdfunding
Bottom Line
INU aims to be a presence at your desk rather than a conversation partner.
You place it down and the spot becomes yours. It notices you approach and reacts when you pet it. That small, quiet interaction is the product's personality.
Some features are still planned, though. Crowdfunding opened on October 16, 2026, and you can get INU from 29,800 yen (Super Early Bird) against a planned retail price of 39,800 yen (tax incl.). It is better treated as a crowdfunding bet than a finished product you can buy today.
Price and How to Buy
Price
The planned retail price of INU is 39,800 yen (tax included). Through crowdfunding you can get it for up to 25% off. All reward prices include shipping and consumption tax.
| Reward tier | Price (tax and shipping incl.) | Discount vs. planned retail price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Early Bird | 29,800 yen | 25% off | One INU. Limited to 50 units |
| Early Bird | 31,800 yen | 20% off | One INU |
| Still in time! | 33,800 yen | 15% off | One INU |
| Best Friends Pair | 67,600 yen | Two-unit set (33,800 yen each) | Two INU plus two cat-ear or dog-ear accessories. Paidy not accepted |
| Secret (24 hours only) | 27,800 yen | 30% off | Closed |
| Support without a reward | From 1 yen | – | Support only; no reward is shipped |
As of November 5, 2026, the campaign has raised 2,901,200 yen from 97 supporters, 290% of its 1,000,000 yen goal. The 24-hour 27,800 yen tier has closed, and the Super Early Bird tier is limited to 50 units. Funding totals and remaining units change daily, so check the project pages for the latest figures.
How to buy
The campaign runs on both Kibidango and GREEN FUNDING from 16:00 JST on Friday, October 16, 2026 to 23:59 JST on Sunday, November 29, 2026 (the first crowdfunding campaign for Ludens AI). Delivery is planned in batches from around February 2027.
A demo unit is on display at the GREEN FUNDING Touch & Try corner inside Tsutaya Electrics+ at Futako-Tamagawa until December 14, 2026.
INU comes with a one-year product warranty from delivery, and crowdfunding buyers also get a one-year free care service (details will be shared in a project update once decided).
Notes
- Crowdfunding means a wait between pledging and delivery
- Delivery around February 2027 may be delayed if backing exceeds expectations or because of parts procurement, manufacturing, or shipping issues. Appearance, specs, and software features may also change in part
- Cancellations, returns, and refunds for personal reasons are not accepted. Product defects are covered by the one-year warranty from delivery
- The basic app features have no monthly fee. Some app-linked features, such as generating the diary, need Wi-Fi and an internet connection
Features
Emotion and touch
INU expresses itself through its eye display, sounds, and movement. It notices when you come near and reacts happily when petted. The official page describes four degrees of freedom: head movement, neck rotation, and tail wagging.
The official page also shows that clothing and accessories can change its look.
mmWave radar presence sensing
INU has no camera and cannot take photos or video. It senses a person nearby with a mmWave radar and senses touch with a touch sensor. A Magic Key on the body also turns off all sensors. For people wary of camera-equipped robots, this is a major point.
Local AI and learning
Its basic reactions work without an internet connection, and it is said to learn your rhythms over time so the relationship grows. It runs on an in-house Klara OS with a long-term memory system.
Sound and conversation
Dancing to the beat of music and recognizing the person who talks to it are planned. You can mute it when sound is a bother.
INU does not speak human words. It answers with sounds, eye expressions, and gestures, so it is not the right fit if you want to chat.
App
The Ludens AI app (iOS and Android, Japanese and English) lets you check INU's status, name it, and change its eye color, and the days you spend together are kept as a picture diary. The basic app features have no monthly fee.
Desk use
The official page describes nudging you to take a break when work runs long, turning any desk into your workspace when you set it down, and starting conversations in an office.
FAQ
How much does INU cost?
The planned retail price is 39,800 yen (tax incl.). In crowdfunding, the tiers are Super Early Bird at 29,800 yen (limited to 50 units), Early Bird at 31,800 yen, 33,800 yen (15% off), and a two-unit Best Friends Pair at 67,600 yen (all tax and shipping incl.). The campaign runs until 23:59 JST on November 29, 2026.
Is INU a dog robot?
No. It is a soft, elongated desk companion with one blue eye and a tail, not a four-legged dog.
When can I get it?
Crowdfunding started at 16:00 JST on October 16, 2026 and runs until 23:59 JST on November 29. Delivery is planned in batches from around February 2027.
Does it have a camera?
No. There is no camera and no photo or video capture. A mmWave radar senses presence and a touch sensor senses touch. A Magic Key on the body can also turn off all sensors.
How is it different from Cocomo?
Both are from Ludens AI. Cocomo moves around the home; INU is a smaller robot that stays on a desk.
Specs
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | INU |
| Developer | Ludens AI (designed with Yukai Engineering) |
| Type | AI companion robot |
| Size / weight | About 7 x 7 x 20 cm, about 500 g |
| Expression | Eye display, sounds, head / neck / tail movement |
| Camera | None |
| Sensors | mmWave radar / microphone / touch sensor. A Magic Key on the body turns off all sensors |
| Display | Single display for facial expressions |
| AI | Local AI, Klara OS, long-term memory. Basic reactions work without an internet connection |
| App | iOS and Android. Status, naming, eye color, diary. Basic features have no monthly fee |
| Battery | 4,800 mAh; typically about 2-3 hours, up to about 6 hours; USB Type-C fast charging |
| Other | Not waterproof and cannot be washed with water. One-year product warranty from delivery |
| Price | Planned retail price 39,800 yen (tax incl.). Crowdfunding from 29,800 yen (Super Early Bird, limited to 50 units); two-unit set 67,600 yen |
| Availability | Crowdfunding from 16:00 JST on Oct 16, 2026 (until 23:59 JST on Nov 29); delivery in batches from around Feb 2027 |
Reviews
INU has not shipped yet, so there are no hands-on buyer reviews. Below is coverage from CES 2026.
Positive
desktop alien pupu
Source: Engadget
Engadget describes INU as small but very cute, with a tail that wags in response to voice and touch and a single eye that blinks.
Concerns
crowdfunding campaigns planned later this year
Source: Gizmochina
At CES, price and availability were not shared. The project has now reached crowdfunding, so real-world feel will have to wait for post-delivery reviews.
Overall Assessment
INU is an unusual companion that puts "being nearby" ahead of conversation or chores.
Camera-free presence sensing and local AI are easy-to-understand selling points for privacy-minded buyers, and the small body and fur are appealing for a desk.
But some features are still planned, and it does not speak human words. The planned retail price is 39,800 yen (tax incl.) and crowdfunding starts from 29,800 yen until November 29. If you prefer to wait for post-delivery reviews, waiting for general sale is also an option.
Comparison with Mia
Both INU and Mia are small companions for a desk or room, but the experience differs.
| Item | INU | Mia |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Fluffy one-eyed desk robot | Compact cat-shaped robot |
| Highlights | mmWave radar, local AI, touch, movement | Voice conversation, expressive face, Google Calendar and weather info, 15 English characters, 47 Japanese dialects |
| Conversation | Sounds and movement; speaker recognition planned | Voice conversation |
| Movement | Head, neck, and tail move | Facial expressions and blinking |
| How to buy | Crowdfunding now open (delivery in batches from around Feb 2027) | Regular sale |
| Price | 39,800 yen (tax incl., planned retail); crowdfunding from 29,800 yen | From 9,800 yen (tax incl.) |
| Best for | People who want a quiet presence | People who want to talk to their robot |
👇 Mia, the talking cat robot
Summary
INU is a one-eyed desk companion from Ludens AI, designed with Yukai Engineering. It aims for a camera-free, cloud-free sense of presence using mmWave radar and local AI. Crowdfunding started on October 16, 2026 and runs until November 29 (23:59 JST), with delivery planned in batches from around February 2027.
The planned retail price is 39,800 yen (tax incl.), and crowdfunding starts from 29,800 yen (Super Early Bird). Some features are still planned, so check the reward tiers and specs on the project pages before deciding.
👀 You may also like:
👉 2026 Guide: AI Pet Robots for Elderly Loneliness – A Comparison of 10 Companion Robots
👉 2026 Edition: 9 Recommended Pet Robots Under $150 – Cheap, Cute, and Healing Models
👉 Monthly and Maintenance Costs of Pet Robots: Moflin, LOVOT, Mia, and More
👉 Mia – Your Chatty AI Cat Companion Robot with 100+ Expressions
