I Tried an AI Robot Built on ESP32 — StackChan Surprised Me

In this video, I’m taking a closer look at Stack-chan, a fascinating AI robot that started as an open-source community project in Japan and has now reached the Kickstarter stage. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/... Originally created by a Japanese maker, Stack-chan quickly gained popularity in the maker community. Contributors joined in, adding moving parts, motors, a 3D-printed body, and AI features — turning a simple idea into a real, interactive robot. Seeing the potential, M5Stack decided to support the project and turn it into an easy-to-buy product. This means you won’t need a 3D printer or deep technical knowledge to own one — a fully finished Stack-chan robot will soon be available. 📦 Current status: The product is now live on Kickstarter, and I was invited to showcase it to my subscribers. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/... ⚙️ Why this project caught my attention: Built on ESP32, a platform I’ve worked with for years Real-time AI conversations Surprisingly fast and natural responses Easy setup and clear on-device instructions 🎮 Features & modes shown in the video: AI Friend Mode – talk with Stack-chan in real time Avatar Mode – copies your facial expressions Sentinel Mode – simple home monitor or baby camera Dance Mode and other fun settings 🛠️ Setup overview: Once powered on, Stack-chan guides you step by step. You simply connect it to Wi-Fi and register the device at: 👉 https://xiaozhi.me/ This project shows how far open-source hardware + AI can go when the community and the right company come together. Let me know in the comments what you think — would you like an AI friend on your desk? 👇 #StackChan #AIRobot #ESP32 #OpenSource #Kickstarter