This Robot Will Be Your Best Friend—And It Pays You in Crypto to Chill
Floki and Rice Robotics Launch AI Companion Robot That Pays Users in CryptoNew Minibot M1 integrates blockchain rewards with personal assistant features as $RICE token debuts on TokenFi
Rice Robotics has launched a new AI-powered companion robot, the Minibot M1, in collaboration with Floki, a project known for its involvement in blockchain ventures. The announcement coincides with the rollout of the $RICE token, which will underpin the robot’s user reward system and support a wider network of decentralized robotics applications.
Floki and Rice Robotics Launch AI Companion Robot That Pays Users in Crypto
The Minibot M1 is designed to function as a home assistant and interactive companion. It can manage schedules, provide information, play music, and engage in conversation. As users interact with the robot, they receive $RICE tokens in return, forming part of a system that contributes to the machine’s training and data collection processes.
The $RICE token will launch via TokenFi’s platform, with staking options available for holders of TokenFi’s own token, $TOKEN. Users holding or staking either $FLOKI or $TOKEN will also be eligible for token airdrops.
Rice Robotics, based in Hong Kong, has existing partnerships with major companies including SoftBank, Nvidia, the Dubai Future Foundation, NTT Japan, and Mitsui Fudosan. Its robots are already in use across Japan, performing tasks such as autonomous indoor delivery for 7-Eleven and office functions at SoftBank’s headquarters.
The partnership with Floki reflects an effort to expand blockchain usage in the AI and robotics sectors. Floki’s sister company, TokenFi, is developing tools to tokenize real-world assets and data, including those generated by AI and robotic systems.
Rice Robotics recently secured over $7 million in funding from investors including the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Soul Capital, and Audacy Ventures. The company is working on a decentralized model for data sharing among robots, aiming to improve performance through autonomous exchange rather than centralized control.
Estimates place the current value of the AI robotics sector at around $22 billion, with projections suggesting it could surpass $100 billion by 2030.
