Key points:
- Elon Musk’s ex-girlfriend and Canadian singer Grimes is working on creating an AI-powered toy named Grok, in the form of a rocket that can interact with children.
- The toy is the first product from Silicon Valley startup Curio, which uses Open AI’s technology to create toys that can hold interactive conversations with children.
- Grimes is an investor and adviser at Curio, and she will voice the toy.
- Curio has clarified that there is no connection between Elon Musk’s AI startup, Grok, and the toy.
- The AI toy is currently available for preorder for $99.
Elon Musk’s ex-girlfriend, Grimes, is working on an AI interactive toy named Grok, shaped like a rocket. Part of the Silicon Valley startup Curio, Grimes is an investor and adviser to the company. Notably, Grimes will also provide her voice for the toy, making it an interactive buddy for children. The company has stressed that there is no connection between Elon Musk’s AI startup, Grok, and the toy. Curio claims complete ownership of the trademark for the name Grok.
The AI-powered toy will be capable of holding long, fully interactive conversations with children, resembling an almost friendly rapport. CEO of Curio, Misha Sallee, disclosed that the toy was designed keeping Grimes’ children in mind. Grimes and Musk share three children together. It is worth mentioning that Grok was not only named for Grimes and Musk’s son X but also because Grimes’ children frequently find themselves around rockets since their father owns SpaceX.
The AI plush toy is currently available for preorder for $99, with shipping set for the following year. Grok operates using a Wi-Fi connection and extends versatile utility to parents. It can metamorphose into a “bedtime mode” when the toy steers all talks with the child towards bedtime, or Grok can automatically fall asleep. The promising company was founded early this year and currently houses four full-time staff members and several contractors in the marketing and manufacturing departments. Investors such as Daniel Gross and former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman have poured funds into the startup.