NEW YORK, July 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OlloBot unveiled the core upgrades of the OlloNi SS1, marking a comprehensive leap forward in design and AI capabilit for its highly anticipated family companion cyber-pet robot. At the same time, OlloBot has announced that the Ollo-family plush IP blind box series will make its North American debut at a pop-up experience at Pika Park Houston, an offline physical store brand owned by ShopVidi this summer. The OlloNi SS1 will launch on Kickstarter in August 2026.
OlloNi SS1 is not a simple iteration, it is OlloBot's true answer to what a perfect family companion can be. The design team advanced four core dimensions: industrial design language, AI hardware architecture, software ecosystem, and IP. The result is a companion that no longer merely senses emotions, but grows with a family and becomes a presence that is genuinely theirs.
A Design Language That Feels Alive
In appearance and materials, the SS1 has made a complete transition from toy-like to premium. Where the S1 used standard plastics in a larger, bulkier frame, the SS1 is built from a refined combination of premium PC/ABS, soft-touch silicone, and plush fabric elements, setting a new tactile standard for what a home companion robot should feel like. The silhouette is more compact and rounded, the expressive arms have greater freedom of movement, and the overall presence feels more grounded, considered, and alive.
Emotional expression has also made a fundamental shift. The SS1 upgrades to an Interactive Emotional Display Panel deeply integrated with environmental sensing, which means it no longer simply shows an expression to communicate, but actively reads the room and responds to the atmosphere around it. Effective voice recognition range has been extended from 2 meters to 5 meters, allowing the SS1 to hear and respond naturally from across a living space.
A Leap Forward in AI and Smart Home Integration
SS1 features a multi-chip AI architecture that enables interaction, environmental perception, and autonomous movement, which is a significant advancement over the single-threaded predecessor. The camera system has been upgraded to 4K with facial recognition, and it comes with a physical privacy shutter that users can close whenever they want. Privacy protection isn't just a promise anymore. It's something you can see and touch.
Smart home ecosystem integration is also one of the most significant upgrades in the SS1.
With Smart Life integration, the SS1 connects to a broad smart home ecosystem, including but not limited to Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, positioning it not only as an emotional companion but as an intelligent hub at the center of the connected home.
Family recognition has been rebuilt through the Memory Recognition Module, which combines facial, body, and voice recognition to identify every member of the family, even including pets.
On privacy, the SS1 processes all data locally and grants user full control over their data, Paired with the OlloBot AI NAS integration, it provides up to 60TB of local storage capacity. All family visual materials are stored solely within the household and remain entirely under the family's custody.
Raised by Your Family And Shaped by Your Memories
Perhaps the most meaningful evolution in the SS1 is its approach to personality growth. Each SS1 develops its own character through real family interaction data and personal habit learning，which means no two units will ever grow into the same companion. It becomes uniquely, irreversibly yours.
At the heart of this is the Heart Memory Module, there is a removable storage core that carries every memory, every learned behavior, and every personality trait the SS1 accumulates over time. When hardware ages and bodies change, the memories don't disappear. They transfer. The SS1 is not a product with a lifespan, it is a relationship with continuity.
Ollo-Family Blind Boxes Arrive in Houston This July
Before the OlloNi SS1 debut on Kickstarter in August, OlloBot will bring its brand to life in person at a pop-up experience at Pika Park Houston, an offline physical store brand owned by ShopVidi this July. The collection features five distinct regular character designs, with a chance to discover a special hidden variant. More than collectible merchandise, these blind boxes are a physical entry into the OlloBot universe, integrating character IP culture with next-generation robotics concepts, and inviting families and collectors to become part of the Ollo-story.
With the SS1, OlloBot is evolving from an interactive device into an AI-native physical companion for the home, laying the foundation for the broader Ollo-family ecosystem rather than introducing a standalone product.
About OlloBot
OlloBot is a companion robot brand developed by Ollobot Robotics Limited, a Hong Kong-based company and a member of the BizConf Technology Co.,Ltd. (SZSE: 300578). Specializing in embodied intelligence and developing proactive, family-centric AI companion cyber-pet robots. The brand focuses on creating emotionally intelligent embodied AI that brings warmth, presence, and genuine connection to modern homes. Pioneering the Cyber Pet category, OlloBot integrates AI and robotics into real domestic environments to rethink how families connect with technology and to make home life feel more meaningful and emotionally enriched. The OlloNi SS1 will launch globally on Kickstarter in August 2026.
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OlloBot Reveals OlloNi SS1's New Identity Design and Announces Ollo-Family Blind Box Launch at Houston Pop-Up This July
More than 80 senior marketing leaders from leading brands across Asia-Pacific to evaluate the region's best agencies.
HONG KONG, Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Campaign Asia-Pacific, Haymarket Media Asia's leading media, marketing and advertising title, has unveiled its most extensive regional judging panel for the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2026, bringing together more than 80 senior marketing leaders from some of the world's most respected brands to recognise and evaluate the region's leading agencies.
Representing Australia/New Zealand, Greater China, Japan/Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia and APAC, this year's judging panel brings together senior decision-makers across a diverse range of industries, including financial services, FMCG, technology, telecommunications, hospitality, automotive and healthcare.
Judges represent leading organisations including Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Henkel, HSBC, IBM, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Lenovo, Mars, Mondelez International, Nestlé, Pernod Ricard, Reckitt, Samsung, SAP, Starbucks, Unilever, Visa, and Volvo Cars, among others.
The Campaign Agency of the Year Awards recognise agencies that demonstrate excellence across creativity, innovation, effectiveness, talent development, business performance and client partnerships. With the final entry deadline on Friday, 4 September 2026, agencies have one final opportunity to showcase their strongest work, teams and achievements to a panel of senior brand leaders who shape marketing strategies and appoint agency partners across the region.
"The Campaign Agency of the Year Awards continue to set the benchmark for recognising agency excellence across Asia-Pacific," said Atifa Silk, Managing Director, Campaign Asia-Pacific.
"What makes these awards distinctive is that entries are judged by the marketers who partner with agencies, build long-term relationships and drive business growth every day. Recognition from this calibre of senior marketing leaders is a powerful endorsement of an agency's creativity, capabilities, business performance and impact. We encourage agencies across the region to showcase their strongest work before the final deadline."
Judges reveal what makes a standout entry
As the communications landscape evolves, so do the expectations for award-winning work. Ahead of the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2026, members of this year's judging panel shared what they look for in standout entries and the qualities that distinguish the region's best agencies.
Rvisra Chirathivat, Chief Marketing Officer, Central and Robinson Department Store said:
"The marketing and communications landscape across Asia is evolving faster than ever, driven by AI, data, and changing consumer expectations. The agencies that will succeed in this complex environment are those that combine strategic thinking, data, and creativity to help clients solve real business challenges while keeping the human connection at the centre of everything they do.
I'm interested in understanding how an agency solves a genuine commercial challenge, influences customer behaviour, and contributes to long-term brand and business growth. The entrants that stand out will be those creating lasting value for both customers and the business - agencies that become genuine business partners. I believe genuine business excellence is reflected in the positive and sustainable impact an agency creates for the brands they serve."
Meanwhile, Josette Addinall, Vice President Marketing, Pacific, Schneider Electric, shares her perspective:
"I see the landscape being shaped by three defining forces: AI, shifting customer expectations, and rising expectations around measurable business outcomes. In my opinion, the best agencies position themselves as growth partners rather than suppliers. They demonstrate a deep understanding of the industry context, customer dynamics, competitive environment and commercial objectives. As a result, their work feels connected to broader business transformation rather than simply marketing activity.
My advice to entrants would be to focus less on explaining what was done and more on helping the jury understand why it mattered. As a client, I'm looking for a clear business story: what was the challenge, what insight unlocked the opportunity, and what measurable impact was achieved? Context is also critical - results only become meaningful when you understand the scale of the challenge being solved. Above all, authenticity matters. The strongest entries are transparent about the problem, honest about the results, and clear on the role the agency played in creating success."
Together, their insights reinforce that standout entries are those that demonstrate strategic thinking, measurable business impact, and the agency's role in solving meaningful challenges and creating long-term value for brands.
The full 2026 judging panel will be available at https://aoyawards.com/all-judges
The judging process is independently audited by SCS-Invictus Group, ensuring every entry is assessed through a transparent, consistent and merit-based process.
Entries for the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2026 remain open until Friday, 4 September 2026, at 6:00 PM Hong Kong time (UTC/GMT+8).
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
| Final Entry Deadline | Friday, 4 September 2026 |
| Shortlist Announcement | Wednesday, 28 October 2026 |
| Awards Presentation Event | Wednesday, 25 November 2026 (Tokyo, Japan) Thursday, 26 November 2026 (Mumbai, India) Tuesday, 1 December 2026 (Shanghai, China) Tuesday, 8 December 2026 (Singapore) |
Milestone
Date
Final Entry Deadline
Friday, 4 September 2026
Shortlist Announcement
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Awards Presentation Event
Wednesday, 25 November 2026 (Tokyo, Japan)
Thursday, 26 November 2026 (Mumbai, India)
Tuesday, 1 December 2026 (Shanghai, China)
Tuesday, 8 December 2026 (Singapore)
For more information and entries submission: aoyawards.com
Campaign Asia-Pacific is pleased to announce PR Newswire as the official press release distributor for the 2026 Agency of the Year Awards.
Agency of the Year Awards
Since the 1990s, Campaign Asia's Agency of the Year Awards has been Asia-Pacific's most trusted benchmark for marketing excellence. The Awards are judged exclusively by senior client-side marketers, independently verified by SCS-Invictus Group, and recognize outstanding achievements across agencies, people, and brands across five regional markets.
www.aoyawards.com
Campaign Asia-Pacific
Campaign Asia-Pacific delivers unparalleled insights into the ideas, work, and people shaping the marketing communications industry. By fostering open, honest dialogue and showcasing game-changing innovation, the platform has become an indispensable resource for marketing professionals across the region and beyond.
www.campaignasia.com
Haymarket Media Group
Haymarket Media Group is a global media, information, and technology company with more than 70 market-leading brands and operations across key markets including the UK, US, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, and India. As the parent company of Campaign Asia-Pacific, Haymarket is dedicated to delivering specialist content, insights, and experiences that connect professional communities worldwide.
www.haymarket.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Campaign Asia Agency of the Year Awards 2026 Unveils Its Most Extensive Regional Judging Panel as Final Entry Deadline Nears
