- Changes
- 3
- Tracking since
- Nov 2020
- Latest
- Apr 27, 2023
- Net movement
- Classification stable
- 2023
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EMO firmware 2.2.0 adds ChatGPT conversation and AI portrait drawing
Firmware 2.2.0, released April 27, 2023, gave EMO a voice-triggered connection to ChatGPT for open conversation, replacing scripted responses with cloud-based dialogue, and added an AI Painting feature that renders anime-style portraits on command.
Full assessment
AutonomyL2 capabilities expandedReadinessReady Now strengthenedScoreScores unchangedLiving.AI's release notes describe the ChatGPT link as an addition outside the original update roadmap. Long-term reliability of the cloud-dependent conversation feature was still unproven.
Impact on autonomy
- ChatGPT connection replaces scripted dialogue with open, cloud-generated spoken responses on command.
- AI Painting adds an on-demand anime-style portrait feature triggered by specific voice phrases.
Impact on readiness
- Conversational range expanded substantially, though functionality now depends on Living.AI's cloud service uptime.
- Two-stage rollout meant owners had to install both the pre-update and 2.2.0 in sequence.
Claim check3 claims reviewed
Living.AI promoted 2.2.0 as bringing ChatGPT-powered conversation to EMOLivingAI Forums release notes confirm the update adds a voice-triggered ChatGPT connection alongside a separate AI Painting featureThe update was framed as a planned milestone in EMO's roadmapLiving.AI's own release notes state ChatGPT and AI Painting were not on the original update route and were added due to user interestMarketing suggested seamless AI conversation from the moment of releaseLiving.AI's release notes acknowledged the ChatGPT service could be unstable at launch and would be patched as issues aroseBottom lineThe ChatGPT connection reached EMO as an added feature, not a planned core update.
Technical notes4 sections
- Firmware Changes
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Living.AI’s firmware update 2.2.0, released April 27, 2023, followed the March 11, 2023 release of firmware 2.1.0. The rollout shipped in two stages, a 2.2 pre-update followed by the full 2.2.0 build, both required to reach the new features.
- ChatGPT Connection
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Saying “connect to ChatGPT” or “connect to OpenAI” links EMO to the ChatGPT service for open conversation, including generating jokes, poems, and stories on request, in place of the robot’s earlier scripted response set for that mode.
- AI Painting
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Voice commands such as “anime woman,” “anime man,” “anime boy,” and “anime girl” trigger EMO’s AI Painting feature, which renders an anime-style portrait of the person addressing it.
- Developer Notes
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Living.AI’s release notes state ChatGPT and AI Painting were not part of the originally planned update sequence and were added in response to user interest, and that the cloud-dependent service could be unstable at launch.
- 2022
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Federal court narrows Digital Dream Labs' copyright claims against EMO
The US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania dismissed Digital Dream Labs' claim that EMO's physical sculpture infringed Vector and Cozmo copyrights, finding no reasonable jury could call the shapes substantially similar.
Full assessment
AutonomyL2 unchangedReadinessReady Now unchangedScoreScores unchangedClaims over EMO's facial animations, sounds, and trademark use survived the same ruling. Whether the narrower case would reach trial or settle remained unresolved.
Impact on autonomy
- The ruling addressed copyright and trademark claims only; EMO's onboard capabilities were untouched.
- No hardware, sensing, or software functionality changed as a result of the decision.
Impact on readiness
- The partial dismissal removed one legal risk to EMO's continued US availability.
- Trademark and audiovisual copyright claims remained pending, leaving some commercial uncertainty unresolved.
Claim check3 claims reviewed
Living.AI has presented EMO's physical design as its own original characterThe court found no reasonable jury could call EMO's three-dimensional sculpture substantially similar to Vector or Cozmo and dismissed that claimDigital Dream Labs sought to block EMO sales over its claimed trade dressThe trade dress claim was dismissed for failing to specify which visual elements it coveredThe design dispute appeared settled once the 2020 copyright registrations were filedThe court let Digital Dream Labs' audiovisual copyright and trademark claims over EMO's facial animations and sounds proceed toward further litigationBottom lineThe ruling cleared EMO's physical shape but left its facial animations and sounds in ongoing dispute.
Technical notes3 sections
- The Ruling
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On February 28, 2022, the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled on cross-motions in Digital Dream Labs, LLC v. Living Technology (Shenzhen) Co., case number 2:20-cv-01500. The court dismissed Digital Dream Labs’ claim that EMO’s three-dimensional physical sculpture infringed copyrights covering the Vector and Cozmo robots, finding no reasonable jury could call the shapes substantially similar when compared side by side.
- Claims That Survived
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The court let Digital Dream Labs’ copyright claim over the audiovisual work of Vector and Cozmo’s facial screen displays and sounds proceed, along with its trademark infringement claim, finding additional discovery necessary before ruling on Living.AI’s nominative fair use defense.
- Claims Dismissed
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Digital Dream Labs’ trade dress infringement claim was dismissed separately for failing to identify which specific visual elements made up the claimed trade dress.
- 2020
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Digital Dream Labs copyright complaint forces Living.AI to pull EMO's Kickstarter listing
Digital Dream Labs, holder of copyrights covering the Vector and Cozmo robots, filed a DMCA complaint that led Kickstarter to remove Living.AI's already-funded EMO campaign by November 27, 2020.
Full assessment
AutonomyL2 unchangedReadinessReady Now unchangedScoreScores unchangedBackers were redirected to Living.AI's own website and forum to track orders outside Kickstarter's standard protections. Whether the underlying design dispute would resolve in EMO's favor remained unsettled.
Impact on autonomy
- Kickstarter takedown did not alter EMO's onboard sensing, navigation, or interaction capabilities.
- Living.AI's product roadmap and feature set were unaffected by the listing removal.
Impact on readiness
- Consumer availability shifted from Kickstarter's checkout to Living.AI's own pre-order pipeline.
- Backers lost Kickstarter's standard buyer protections when the campaign listing was pulled.
Claim check3 claims reviewed
Living.AI marketed EMO's design and personality as original to the desktop robot categoryDigital Dream Labs alleged EMO's facial animations and sounds were substantially similar to its Vector and Cozmo copyrights, per the DMCA filingKickstarter promised backers a funded, on-track path to shippingKickstarter removed the live EMO listing by November 27, 2020 over the copyright complaintThe Kickstarter relaunch was presented as a clean break from EMO's earlier crowdfunding historyThe same rights holder had already forced Living.AI's prior Indiegogo campaign offline over a similar complaintBottom lineThe copyright dispute reached EMO's crowdfunding listing twice before the robot ever shipped.
Technical notes3 sections
- Campaign Background
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Living.AI’s EMO campaign launched on Kickstarter after an earlier Indiegogo listing for the same desktop robot had already been taken offline following a cease and desist from Digital Dream Labs. The Kickstarter campaign ran November 26 to December 31, reached its $50,000 goal within 30 minutes of launch, and closed having raised $347,996 from 2,126 backers.
- The Copyright Complaint
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Digital Dream Labs, which holds the intellectual property of the discontinued Anki robots Vector and Cozmo, filed a DMCA complaint citing two US copyright registrations issued November 25, 2020 covering the three-dimensional sculpture and audiovisual work of those robots. The complaint alleged EMO’s facial graphics, animations, and sounds were substantially similar. Kickstarter removed the EMO listing by November 27, 2020.
- Aftermath
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Living.AI moved order tracking to its own website and forum, telling backers pledges remained secured and that charges would follow Kickstarter’s normal funding process. Digital Dream Labs separately filed a takedown notice against an unofficial EMO fan group on Facebook.