LYNOOK transforms AI companions from individual conversations into collective, memory-filled experiences.

      While many AI companion products still aim to keep users engaged through basic one-on-one chat interactions, LYNOOK Technology is adopting a radically different strategy to overcome the industry's common five-day product lifecycle issue. This innovative tech company, established in Nanshan, Shenzhen in 2026, has strong ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) roots from its very beginnings. With its core philosophy centered on giving beloved characters a home, it has created a unique path in the highly competitive AI companion market.

      Founder Luo Jingmin's background is particularly well-suited for this venture. A technical professional who previously focused on visual algorithms at Tencent AI LAB, he had already been managing an ACG community during his junior high school years, deeply imbuing him with an understanding of ACG culture rooted in his personal development. Co-founder Zhang Jiayi possesses both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Sydney. With experience in CVC investment at Swire Group and extensive knowledge of consumer electronics channels, she is also a recipient of the IF Design Award. This combination of technology, ACG culture, and consumer relations has enabled the team to sidestep a typical mistake made by many AI startups, which often emphasize technology at the expense of user experience from the outset.

      In contrast to the majority of AI companion products that primarily focus on online chat, LYNOOK has embraced a model of hardware plus an "AI character small world." Its desktop companion product transcends the limitations of mere conversation. With self-developed spatial computing and rendering technologies, it creates an interactive, touchable 3D living space for users. Within this environment, the AI character transforms from a lifeless chat interface into a genuine companion, complete with its own living scenarios, daily activities, and unique personality traits. Users can share everyday experiences with the AI and engage in numerous ritualistic interactions through touch and voice, creating a tangible sense of companionship that materializes on their physical desktops.

      The most groundbreaking aspect is their proposed character neighbor gameplay: multiple devices can be magnetically stacked, allowing AI characters from different users to coexist as neighbors and develop interactive connections within their individual small worlds. This feature directly addresses the primary issue in the current AI companion industry; as Luo Jingmin noted, over 60% of AI companion products enjoy only a five-day lifecycle due to insufficient living space, social networks, and shared experiences. The social network created by LYNOOK through hardware stacking transforms the relationship between users and their AI characters from isolated, one-on-one conversations into a dynamic environment that fosters shared memories through ongoing relationships, significantly extending the product lifecycle.

      To construct this distinctive AI character universe, LYNOOK is actively seeking professional talent from the ACG sector. It offers internships in illustration and character design aimed at fine arts students to collaboratively enhance the appearance, personalities, and living scenarios of the brand's original characters, gradually forming a coherent and recognizable character visual system. From character concept art and action libraries to fully realized story-driven scenes, the team is methodically transitioning the idea of an "AI character small world" into a sustainable and implementable visual asset.

      As the AI companion field grapples with the challenge of achieving millions of daily active users, LYNOOK opts not to chase user scale blindly. Instead, it delves into the genuine emotional needs of core ACG enthusiasts. While others strive to retain users by refining chat scripts, this emerging company has leveraged hardware, spatial design, and social connections to uncover a new avenue for AI companionship—envisioning a future where every ACG fan can have a genuine AI partner sharing their desktop.

      Jessie Wu is a tech journalist based in Shanghai, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. Reach her via email at jessie.wu@technode.com. More by Jessie Wu.