AI is coming for collectibles next

Buddyo is a smart base designed to add AI to figurines like Funko Pops using NFC tags.

AI toys, companions, and robots have been everywhere at CES this year, but among the horde of waddling plushies and light-up emoji eyes, two stood out to me. HeyMates and Buddyo are each betting that the collectible figurine boom is going to come back with an AI-powered vengeance, letting us chat to sports stars and superheroes from our desks.

The core concept to both is this: Take a cutesy figurine and stick it onto a smart base with a speaker...