ANKKI

Anki was a robotics and artificial intelligence startup that developed robotic toys for children, integrating AI to create intelligent and adaptable consumer products. Founded in 2010 by Carnegie Mellon University graduates Boris Sofman, Mark Palatucci, and Hanns Tappeiner, the company aimed to bring robotics from research labs into consumer homes through entertainment.

The company debuted with Anki Drive at the 2013 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Its product line included AI-enhanced racing games like Anki Drive and Anki Overdrive, which used an iOS app to control physical cars. Anki later launched interactive toy robots, Cozmo and Vector. Cozmo, a small robot with a distinct personality, could play games and recognize faces, becoming a best-selling toy in 2017. Vector was a more advanced, cloud-connected version with voice command capabilities and Amazon Alexa integration. The business model centered on hardware sales of its primary products and accessories, supplemented by in-app purchases for new features.

Despite raising over $200 million from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, and JP Morgan, Anki faced financial difficulties. The high cost of manufacturing sophisticated hardware and a business model reliant on one-time hardware sales proved unsustainable. After failing to secure a critical funding round, Anki ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy in April 2019. In December 2019, its assets were acquired by Digital Dream Labs.

Keywords: consumer robotics, artificial intelligence toys, smart toys, robotics education, STEM toys, Cozmo robot, Vector robot, Anki Drive, AI entertainment, educational robotics, mobile-controlled toys, personal robots, interactive toys, app-enabled toys, robotics startup, Carnegie Mellon spinoff, Digital Dream Labs