Set it up
7 AI robot and companion setups: what they need and what they record
A robot that answers your child's questions can be magical. It also has a microphone, often a camera, a Wi-Fi connection and an account behind it, and sometimes a monthly plan. This list explains, robot by robot, what each one needs to set up and what it records, so you can decide before the box is open. A good setup keeps the robot in a shared room, turns off the camera when it isn't needed, and checks the parent app. And remember that robots can disappear: Moxie, the companion robot from Embodied, stopped working when the company shut down in Dec 2024.
We picked robots and companions sold in Oct 2026 that families use with kids, using the makers' own pages and news coverage. We list setup needs and recording facts as the makers describe them; check the privacy policy before you buy. Checked 2026-10-24. Nobody paid to be here and nothing is an affiliate link.
Miko 3
Miko · Ages 5-10
Needs: Wi-Fi, the Miko app, a parent account, and Miko Max for much of the content. Records: an HD camera and microphones; Miko says no identifiable voice recordings are stored and it is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified.
- Charge, then connect to home Wi-Fi
- Pair in the Miko app and add a child profile
- Set a parent passcode
- Disable the camera if you won't use it
Watch for: In Feb 2026 senators said robot replies to kids were reachable online; Miko denied a breach.
Miko Mini
Miko · Ages 5-10
Needs: Wi-Fi, the Miko Parent App and Miko App, and an account; it includes a 6-month Miko Max plan. Records: camera and microphone array, with an on-demand camera shutter and one-tap mic and camera off.
- Install both Miko apps
- Connect the robot to Wi-Fi
- Set time limits and bedtime mode
- Note the Max renewal date
Watch for: After six months, Max renews as a paid plan unless you cancel.
EMO desktop robot
LivingAI · Ages Check the maker's guidance
Needs: the EMO app for games and recorded moments, and internet for answers like the weather. Records: an HD camera with face recognition that remembers family members, and a four-microphone array. The maker says it processes images and sound continuously.
- Set it up on a shared desk
- Pair it with the app
- Review which faces it has learned
- Read the privacy policy
Watch for: No age guidance on the product page. Read the privacy policy before it goes in a kid's room.
Eilik
Energize Lab · About $140 (Oct 2026) · Ages Check the maker's guidance
Needs: a USB-C charger; the maker says Eilik works without Wi-Fi or internet. That makes it a low-data pick for kids who want a desk pet with expressions and touch reactions rather than a chatbot.
- Charge it over USB-C
- Play with it offline first
- Decide whether you want the AI add-on at all
Watch for: An optional AI Station accessory adds generative AI features. Check what it connects to before adding it.
Loona robot
KEYi Tech · Ages Check the maker's guidance
Needs: the Loona app, Wi-Fi and an account. Records: a camera used for face tracking, plus microphones. A roaming pet robot kids love to chase; the newer Deskmate uses a parent's iPhone as its brain and face.
- Set it up with the Loona app
- Read the privacy and product security pages
- Keep it out of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Turn off any home-monitoring features you don't need
Watch for: A camera that moves around the house. Know where it can go and what it can see.
Echo Show Kids as a talking companion
Amazon · Ages 3-12
Needs: Wi-Fi, the Alexa app and an Amazon account; comes with a year of Kids+. Records: voice requests go to Amazon's cloud, and the screen has a camera for approved video calls. Parents can see what kids asked.
- Set it up in the Alexa app with Amazon Kids
- Approve contacts for calls
- Set bedtime and screen limits
- Set voice recordings to auto-delete
Watch for: Kids+ renews after the first year. Close the camera shutter when not calling.
AI plush toys and chatbot toys
Curio, FoloToy and others · Ages Check each toy
Needs: usually Wi-Fi and a phone app, often a cloud chatbot underneath. Records: microphones, and sometimes chat logs. In 2026, senators sent letters to Miko, FoloToy and Curio about how they protect kids' data.
- Find out which AI company powers the toy
- Read what it stores and for how long
- Ask it ten tricky questions yourself
- Keep the app's history on so you can review
Watch for: Test any talking toy yourself for odd or adult answers before your child plays.
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