POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction

this soft robot challenges the idea that AI should have authority over human emotion.

Mehrnaz Amouei edited by christina vergopoulou April 29, 2026 3 min

a soft robot that replaces AI control with touch and presence

POCO is a soft robotic companion developed by designer Mehrnaz Amouei that examines alternative relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. The project focuses on interaction models based on presence, responsiveness, and clearly defined limitations, rather than systems that interpret or direct emotional states.

As AI increasingly operates within personal and emotional contexts, questions emerge around dependency, interpretation, and control. POCO addresses these concerns by proposing a relational framework in which the system functions alongside the user without assuming authority. Instead of diagnosing or guiding behavior, the device is designed to respond, reflect, and maintain boundaries that remain visible to the user.

The project is informed by a year-long research process involving qualitative interviews, interdisciplinary input, and iterative prototyping. Findings indicated a preference for systems that offer availability and responsiveness without projecting certainty or control. In response, the design introduces the concept of ‘constructive interdependence,’ where limitations are embedded as part of the interaction model. The system communicates what it can and cannot do through its behavior and states.

POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction - 1 — POCO’s form remains ambiguous, between object, creature, and companion | all images courtesy of Mehrnaz Amouei

POCO turns interaction into shared rhythm between user and AI

Physically, POCO is developed as a soft, tactile object that connects to a smartphone, which functions as its computational component. Interaction is based on touch, using capacitive sensors that respond to gestures such as holding or stroking. Movement is expressed through slow, rhythmic actions that resemble breathing, reinforcing a sense of presence without relying on mechanical articulation.

Engagement with the device is structured as a reciprocal process. The system does not initiate interaction independently but responds to user input, establishing a shared rhythm. States of activity and rest are visibly communicated, reinforcing awareness of the system’s operational boundaries.

Through its integration of material, behavior, and interaction logic, POCO robot companion positions AI as a participant within a relational system rather than a directive tool. The project frames trust not as a function of expanded capability, but as a result of transparency, limitation, and balanced interaction between user and device.

POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction - 2 — robot’s variations adapt to users, environments, and emotional preferences while maintaining a consistent identity

POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction - 3 — a soft textile body wraps around the device, transforming rigid technology into a huggable presence

POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction - 4 — at human scale, POCO moves through spaces as a quiet presence, less a device and more a companion that belongs

POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction - 5 — a soft robotic companion designed as a quiet emotional presence that integrates into everyday life

poco-soft-robot-companion-mehrnaz-amouei-human-ai-designboom-1800-2 — a prototype setup showing the robotic device’s tactile interface

POCO soft robot companion rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction - 6 — a working prototype explores tactile interaction, and how AI can exist in a physical, touchable form

the smartphone acts as POCO’s brain and face, turning a familiar device into a responsive and expressive living interface touch becomes a key interface, enabling intuitive and non-verbal communication beyond screens and voice interactions minimal visual expressions communicate mood and intention, creating a universal language that relies on presence rather than words grounded in research on loneliness and trust, POCO explores how human–AI relationships can become more emotional, supportive, and meaningful through subtle prompts and presence, POCO engages users in everyday moments, supporting interaction, reflection, and quiet companionship POCO’s approach emphasizes quiet presence, touch-based interaction, and emotional support through non-intrusive, responsive design aligned with global challenges, POCO supports mental well-being and responsible technology by shifting focus from productivity to emotional care

project info:

name: POCO | Soft Robotic Companion for Everyday Life
designer: Mehrnaz Amouei | @minazez

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