A physical desk device that gives your AI voice, vision and presence
The AI Companion Device is a small desk unit that puts an AI presence in a room. The hardware is the M5Stack CoreS3 Lite, about $45 from electronics distributors; Hard EA does not sell it and adds no fees, markup or subscription. You turn it on, connect it over USB and the firmware is written from your browser. Once paired, it shares the companions and conversation history on your account.
It holds a full voice conversation, shows expressions on its display, can generate and show images on that display and receive video, and sees through a camera so you can ask about whatever it is pointed at. It can award points for milestones when used for learning. Magnets on the back let it sit on a fridge or a cabinet, where it reads recipes, sets timers or simply answers questions.
The same hardware, flashed with a different image, becomes a sentinel for the Household AI Sentinel. Live2D animation of the avatar, email outreach when you are away and passive monitoring are in development.
Open AI Companion Device on Hard EA
What you can do
- Full voice conversation in and out with your account's companions
- A camera it can see through: ask about bugs, plants, homework or recipes
- On-screen expressions such as happy, thinking and surprised
- Generates and displays images on the device screen and receives video
- Awards points for achievements when used as a tutor
- Firmware flashed from your browser, no toolchain required
How it works
- Buy an M5Stack CoreS3 Lite for about $45 from one of the stores listed on the page.
- Turn the device on, then plug it into your computer over USB.
- Click Flash and Pair. The site writes the firmware and pairs it to your account in the browser.
- Pick the companion personality it should use and start talking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the companion device cost?
About $45 for the hardware, an M5Stack CoreS3 Lite sold by electronics distributors. Hard EA does not sell it and charges no fees, markup or subscription on top.
Do I need to know how to flash firmware?
No. Turn the device on, plug it in over USB and click Flash and Pair on the page. The firmware is written from your browser and the device is paired to your account in the same step.
What can it actually do?
Voice conversation, on-screen expressions, image generation shown on its own screen, receiving video, seeing through its camera so you can ask about what it is looking at, and awarding points for achievements.
Does it use the same companions as the website?
Yes. Once paired it shares your account's companions and conversation history, so a companion you configure online is the one the device uses, and a conversation started on the device continues online.
Is it suitable for children?
It was built first as a tutor for the founders' own kids. If you use it that way, lock your account in SFW mode. A parental lock keeps that setting behind a password only a parent knows.
What is still in development?
Live2D animation of the companion's avatar on the device display, email integration so the companion can reach you when you are away, and passive monitoring for content you do not want a child exposed to.