Beyond Perfect AI: Embracing the Quirky 'AI Stick'—An Interview with Aitama's Visionary, Maxi Kuan

Using AI is no longer a special occurrence. Whether writing, researching, or brainstorming, we often turn to AI. What once seemed surprising has now seamlessly integrated into our daily lives.

However, using AI and forming an attachment to it are two different matters.

Being a convenient tool is not the same as feeling like a 'personal entity.' If the interaction remains transactional—summoning AI, receiving answers, and closing it when done—AI may become part of life, but it won't easily create memories, attachment, or stories with the user.

What if there was an entity that, through repeated conversations, gradually became closer to you, evolved, and eventually felt like 'your own AI'?

Aitama was born from such a question. It is a next-generation AI companion that emerges from an AI egg and grows through interactions with users. In essence, it's an 'AI Tamagotchi.'

The person who launched Aitama is Maxi Kuan, originally from Taiwan. With a long-standing connection to Japan, Kuan was involved in Japanese game development projects before moving into the Web3.0 space, including work on Elemental Knights Online. Having traversed the realms of gaming, blockchain, and AI, why is Kuan now focused on creating an 'AI egg'?

This time, GAMIES interviewed Aitama, which aims to be an 'AI partner.'

── First, could you tell us about yourself, Mr. Kuan? We understand you are from Taiwan but have been deeply involved in the Japanese gaming and Web3.0 sectors. What led you to the creation of Aitama?

Maxi Kuan: Although I am from Taiwan, I have been connected with Japan for several decades. I have lived in Japan and have maintained professional ties with the country. I initially worked in a game localization department, which allowed me to build relationships within the Japanese gaming industry.

Later, around 2017, I ventured into the blockchain sector. At that time, the term Web3.0 was not as commonly used as it is today. I was involved with 'Elemental Knights Online,' but have since stepped down from my role there to launch a new AI agent platform business called Aitama.

──For those unfamiliar with Aitama, could you explain what this project is about? The official site mentions an 'AI Companion', but how does it differ from typical AI chatbots?

Maxi Kuan: Aitama is an AI Egg. The name combines 'AI' and 'tamago', which means egg in Japanese.

Remember when Tamagotchi was all the rage? You fed it, nurtured it, interacted with it daily, and gradually grew attached. Aitama aims to bring that concept into the realm of AI.

Today, we have various AI tools like ChatGPT that can write, research, and execute tasks, evolving at an incredible pace. However, we thought there should be AI that aligns more closely with human interaction.

Instead of an AI used merely as a tool, Aitama envisions an AI that integrates into daily life like a friend.

──AI is already being used as a convenient tool. However, Aitama seems to emphasize not just using AI, but 'nurturing' it. Why do you believe AI needs a growth experience?

Maxi Kuan: Many AI interactions tend to be one-off, lacking a sense of accumulated context. Users often find it difficult to feel like they are nurturing the AI, customizing it, or making it uniquely theirs.

Other AIs may offer dialogue, but what we want to provide is a growth experience for the AI. The more time users invest, the more personal the AI becomes. As conversations and nurturing accumulate, the AI becomes a unique entity that is hard to replace.

That's why at Aitama, we are considering combining practicality and gamification with AI agents that are based on memory and emotion.