Pixar’s beloved hopping lamp has inspired a real-life creation — and soon it could be brightening up desks around the world.
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California-based Interaction Labs has unveiled Ongo, a robotic smart lamp capable of moving, seeing, hearing and talking, blending the charm of animation with modern home technology.
A promotional video shows the “ambient desk lamp companion robot” swiveling, tilting and curiously observing objects and people, while offering helpful reminders around the home. Addressing privacy concerns, the lamp even comes with a pair of sunglasses to block its camera when needed.
Karim Rkha Chaham, co-founder and CEO of Interaction Labs, said Ongo is designed to be expressive and intuitive, even learning users’ preferences over time. “Think of it as a cat trapped inside the body of a desk lamp,” he said.
Social media users have praised the design, calling it “incredible,” “epic,” “very cool” and “the cutest robot on the market.” One commenter said it’s something they’d “definitely have at home — and not a creepy humanoid robot.”
Ongo’s movement animation was developed by Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writer behind Pixar’s Toy Story, as well as Garfield: The Movie and Evan Almighty. In the promo clip, Ongo rotates on its base and adjusts its posture with expressive motions reminiscent of Pixar’s iconic lamp.
The lamp adapts its brightness based on user needs, such as lowering its glowing “eyes” for nighttime reading. It also offers cheerful interactions, from reminders like “Hey, don’t forget your keys” to cooking tips such as “Maybe try a dash of balsamic.”
One clip even shows Ongo bouncing in rhythm to music from another room during a party, adding personality to its function.
According to Interaction Labs, Ongo is designed to “light up your desk and your day,” providing a magical, emotionally intelligent presence in the home. “It brings your space to life with movement, personality and emotional intelligence,” the company states. “It remembers what matters, senses how you feel and supports you with small, thoughtful interactions.”
