Sweekar

Digital pets have mostly lived and grown on screens. Sweekar takes a different route: the maker says the device itself changes size. An internal stepper motor raises the body by a few millimetres at a time as you keep up daily care, taking it from a 6.1 cm egg to a 7.1 cm adult. Growth is not tied to the passage of time; according to the maker, only feeding, cleaning and playing move it forward, and neglect stalls it. In the early stages, a lack of care can make it fall ill, and attentive care brings it back.

Sensors, not cameras

The maker lists touch, motion and millimetre-wave sensors, which let Sweekar register being patted or picked up and respond with changing expressions and vibration. There is no camera on board, a choice the maker frames as a privacy measure.

Memory and personality

Conversation runs on GPT-4o-mini, according to the campaign, with long-term memory for details such as nicknames, favourite drinks and good or stressful moments, recalled weeks later. Stored memories can be reviewed and deleted in a companion smartphone app. Language develops with growth: a baby Sweekar only makes small sounds like "mmm" and "ooh" before gradually learning words and moving to two-way conversation. Three conversation plans are described (Daily, Extended and Unlimited), and the maker states that no monthly fee is required for the basic functions.

How you speak to it, how often you play and how you care for it shape its temperament along axes such as introverted or extroverted, logical or imaginative, calm or lively. The app shows an MBTI-inspired personality profile, and weekly growth reports track the changes.

Built to travel

• Weight of 89 grams, sized for a pocket or bag
• Connects via smartphone tethering rather than relying on home Wi-Fi
• Basic care functions work on the device without an internet connection
• NFC lets two Sweekar units greet each other, with the friendship logged in the app
• Adult Sweekar can go on 2–4 hour adventures, returning with generated photos, keepsakes and postcards
• Tasks earn an in-app currency used for further adventures and customisation

Appearance is customisable through colour variations and outfit sets, alongside a standard included outfit; the maker says owners can also print their own outfit designs. A dedicated ita-bag carrier is offered, and the app displays mood, hunger, cleanliness and energy, plus adventure destinations and task assignments.