Tuya Smart Aura AI pet robot offers interactive play sessions and treats

Tuya Smart has just introduced Aura, its first AI-powered companion robot designed for pets.

Aura is designed specifically for domestic cats and dogs, with AI trained to recognize their behaviors, movements and vocal signals. The idea behind Aura is simple. Pets need more than food bowls and cameras. They need attention, interaction and reassurance.

Aura stays active in the home, monitoring changes in behavior and responding in real time so owners can better understand how their pets are doing. Many animals have difficulty being left alone for long hours. Small changes often appear first. A dog may stop playing. A cat may hide or groom itself excessively. These signs may indicate stress or anxiety. Aura steps in during these quiet times, offering engagement instead of an empty room.

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Tuya Smart unveils Aura, an AI-powered companion robot designed to interact with domestic cats and dogs and monitor behavior changes in real time. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Why Emotional Intelligence is Important for Pets

Smart feeders and pet cameras handle the basics. Emotional care is another story. Pets are social. When routines change, their mood can change quickly. Aura tracks behavior and listens for changes in sound patterns. It can indicate whether an animal is feeling excited, anxious, lonely or relaxed. Aura then sends real-time emotional updates to the owner’s phone. This makes it easier to spot problems early rather than guessing after the fact.

How Aura interacts with animals at home

Aura acts more like a companion than an immobile device. Multiple systems work together throughout the day to keep animals occupied. Key features include:

• Laser tag and treat distribution for active interaction
• Simulated animal sounds with expressive animated eyes
• Voice interaction, designed to be natural and responsive

Instead of waiting for a button to be pressed, Aura looks for opportunities to engage. It transforms long, quiet hours into moments of play and stimulation.

Capturing the moments that matter

Aura also keeps tabs on which moments are worth saving. With AI animal recognition and intelligent tracking, it captures everyday highlights like playful outbursts, calm naps and fun interactions. Aura can automatically turn these clips into short videos. This helps owners stay connected and feel closer to their pets even when they are away. It’s also easier to capture moments you could never capture on your own and share them with your family or post them on social media.

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Aura uses artificial intelligence to recognize animals’ movements, sounds and emotional signals, providing engagement and reassurance when pets are home alone. (OLEKSII FILIPPOV / AFP via Getty Images)

How Aura moves and recharges on its own

Movement plays an important role in Aura’s role at home. Thanks to V-SLAM navigation, binocular vision and AIVI object recognition, Aura moves freely while avoiding obstacles. When the battery is low, it automatically returns to its power and charging station. This keeps it ready without constant attention from owners.

A larger ecosystem around pet care

Aura connects to the broader Tuya ecosystem, which opens access to services beyond the home. These include smart pet boarding, health and medical care, behavioral training, grooming, personalization and community tools. Instead of handling a single task, Aura becomes a central platform for pet care that can evolve over time.

More than a domestic robot

Aura is focused on pets today, but the technology behind it goes further. Emotional awareness, proactive assistance and ecosystem integration could also support elderly care, home monitoring and family connectivity. Starting with pets gives Tuya a clear emotional use case while paving the way for future home robotics.

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The Aura robot autonomously moves around the house, playing with pets, handing out treats and capturing highlights on video for owners. (Gabe Souza/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Tuya has yet to share a release date or price for Aura. The company revealed the robot earlier this month at CES 2026, but details on availability and cost remain unclear. These specificities are likely to bring it closer to a launch to a larger public. Despite this, Aura signals a shift in how smart home technology appears for pets. This goes beyond simple monitoring and relies on interaction and emotional awareness. If Aura delivers on its promise, it could help pet owners feel more comfortable leaving their pets home alone while still staying connected throughout the day.

If technology could read your pet’s emotions and respond to them in real time, would you trust it to be part of your household routine, or would that seem like too much? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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