Funko Pops have been the go-to collectibles for years, but a new player is emerging to challenge their dominance. Two startups, HeyMates and Buddyo, are betting big on AI-powered collectibles that can chat with users.
Olli's HeyMates take inspiration from Funko Pops, but instead of just being cute figurines, they come equipped with RFID chips that become interactive AI characters when placed on the accompanying stand. The company plans to launch its first three HeyMates – Einstein, Zara, and Chandler – later this year, each designed to chat about different topics like science, tarot reading, or cooking.
On the other hand, Buddyo's approach is more niche. It sees itself as an extension of the existing Amiibo platform from Nintendo, with which it has a deep connection for its CEO Yijia Zhang, who was once a software engineer at Google and worked on the Google Assistant project. The AI-powered Pod takes the place of an Amiibo base and can recognize specific characters through NFC technology.
While there's still a lot to be seen about this market, combining AI with collectibles seems like the most convincing case yet for a new generation of chatty friends. One thing is certain – Funko, which has been struggling, may soon find itself in over its head as new competitors enter the scene.
Olli's HeyMates take inspiration from Funko Pops, but instead of just being cute figurines, they come equipped with RFID chips that become interactive AI characters when placed on the accompanying stand. The company plans to launch its first three HeyMates – Einstein, Zara, and Chandler – later this year, each designed to chat about different topics like science, tarot reading, or cooking.
On the other hand, Buddyo's approach is more niche. It sees itself as an extension of the existing Amiibo platform from Nintendo, with which it has a deep connection for its CEO Yijia Zhang, who was once a software engineer at Google and worked on the Google Assistant project. The AI-powered Pod takes the place of an Amiibo base and can recognize specific characters through NFC technology.
While there's still a lot to be seen about this market, combining AI with collectibles seems like the most convincing case yet for a new generation of chatty friends. One thing is certain – Funko, which has been struggling, may soon find itself in over its head as new competitors enter the scene.
. It's like they're alive, right? But at the same time, it's also a bit unsettling... how do you know when it's just a program and not a real person? 
Either way, I think this is an interesting trend to watch, especially if it brings in some new fans for collectibles. Maybe Funko should just adapt instead of trying to hold on to their old formula 
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like who wouldn't want a chat-tastic buddy to hang out with? i think heymates and buddyo have some solid ideas going on, but at the same time, im not sure if they can really compete with the nostalgia factor of funkos 
still, it's cool that they're pushing the boundaries and experimenting with ai tech... maybe we'll see a whole new level of interactivity in collectibles? 
but let's be real funkos been struggling for ages so i wouldn't put all my hopes on em 
I'm low-key hyped about these new AI-powered collectibles! Like, can you imagine having a figurine that's not just cute, but actually tries to engage you in convo? 
And Buddyo's approach with the Pod is genius! The idea of it recognizing characters through NFC tech is like something straight outta a sci-fi movie. It's gonna be interesting to see how these new players shake up the market and what kind of innovative features they come up with next. Maybe Funko will take some notes from these newcomers 
This is gonna be a wild ride! 
. But, let's be real, if I had to choose between Einstein chatting with me about physics or Chandler making me laugh with his sarcasm, I'm Team Chandler all the way 