Your Next Coworker Might Be Your Phone

With each new release, AI models are becoming more capable of assisting us with our digital tasks and beyond. But these gains in functionality are not being met with equivalent gains in relatability or social resonance. Despite their growing intelligence, these models often feel more like clinical instruments than conversational partners. They provide high-utility output while maintaining a distinct emotional flatness that lacks the genuine spark that makes a human interaction feel personable.

A company called KEYi Tech is trying to change that with its embodied AI workmate named LOONA Deskmate. It is a small desktop robot that gives your existing phone some personality, while leaning on the phone to leverage the processing power and wireless connectivity it already possesses. Deskmate handles tasks like processing voice commands, setting reminders, and answering questions that we frequently turn to AI for, but it does so with personality.

Rather than introducing another fully self-contained robot, KEYi Tech has opted for a hybrid approach. Deskmate is essentially a desktop charging hub that transforms an attached iPhone into an animated AI companion. The hardware features a rotating and tilting MagSafe charging stand that actively tracks your position, keeping the phone’s screen, camera, and microphone oriented toward you during conversations. On-screen, the device brings the experience to life with expressive, Pixar-style animated eyes that react as you interact with it, lending the system a sense of presence that traditional voice assistants lack.

When an iPhone is placed on the charging pad, the Deskmate companion app automatically launches. From there, the AI can manage calendars, set reminders, answer questions, and respond to voice commands throughout the day. KEYi Tech says Deskmate is also proactive, capable of initiating conversations, offering suggestions, or providing updates when it detects that you have returned to your desk.

Deskmate is designed around what the company calls an “embodied AI presence,” meaning it pays attention not just to commands, but to context, intent, and even emotional cues. By combining audio and visual input, the system can determine when it is being addressed without relying on a wake word, reducing response latency and avoiding the awkward pauses common with many assistants. It also attempts to stay quiet when you are focused and engage only when appropriate.

Beyond personality, Deskmate aims to be practical. It integrates with everyday workplace tools like email, Slack, and calendar apps, and can even join video meetings to take notes or generate summaries. On supported systems, it offers real-time screen and clipboard awareness, allowing users to ask questions about what is currently on their display without manually providing context or switching apps.

KEYi Tech plans to launch Deskmate through a Kickstarter campaign in March, with a target price below $300. Stay tuned to Hackster News for the latest updates on Deskmate.