by New AI Companion from Nissan
The company Nissan has introduced a new artificial intelligence named Eporo, which combines a physical figurine with a digital avatar in the form of a bird. This hybrid approach aims to create an emotional connection with users, making the interaction more personal and engaging.
Functional Capabilities of Eporo
Eporo is positioned as a generative AI agent for cars, which can play the role of a digital assistant. It suggests routes, provides information about the surrounding environment, tells about the weather, and supports conversations in natural language. The system is activated by placing a special figurine on the dashboard, which launches the application on a smartphone and “brings to life” the avatar.
Interactivity and Personalization
The phone screen displays an animated version of Eporo, which responds to commands: it opens its eyes, moves its beak during a conversation. The application also reproduces a dialogue log in the style of text messages. In addition to the bird design, Nissan offered other avatar options, such as Samurai Eporo or Uncle Eporo, each with a unique character and manner of speech. Users can create their own characters based on photos.
Other Innovations at the Japan Mobility Show
At the Japan Mobility Show, Nissan also presented the Diorama Navi system installed in an autonomous prototype. This is a three-dimensional diorama with miniature cars that move and light up, recreating the city in real time. The system is accompanied by an audio system in a retro style with physical buttons and controls, designed to bring back the “joy of driving” lost in the era of touch screens.
These developments demonstrate how automakers are experimenting with interfaces, trying to make technology more accessible and emotional. Nissan’s approach to creating a “physical presence” for AI could become a trend, especially for drivers who feel alienated from modern touch systems. However, the success of such solutions will depend on their practical usefulness and convenience in daily use.
