KUALA LUMPUR: Kindred Labs, an artificial intelligence (AI) companion startup, has announced a strategic partnership with IPX (formerly known as LINE FRIENDS) to develop AI-powered companion experiences that bring beloved character personalities into everyday digital life.
“The primary way people will experience their personal AI will be through something they genuinely love seeing every day.
“I can already imagine the delight fans will have when BROWN starts showing up in their daily lives, like this familiar presence you are happy to see.
“We are taking these characters into a whole new paradigm, one that brings us closer to why we love them in the first place,” said Kindred Labs’ Chief Executive Officer, Max Giammario, in a statement.
The companions are designed as a persistent presence on users’ screens, appearing seamlessly in daily moments, from desktops and mobiles to emerging surfaces like smart glasses over time.
Beyond personality and expression, these companions will also serve as personal assistants, intended to become a central way people interact with AI throughout their day, expressed through a friendly and familiar presence.
The partnership, planned to launch in April 2026 globally, excluding China, coincides with the 15th anniversary of LINE FRIENDS’ iconic character BROWN, offering fans a new way to connect with the character in daily life.
The collaboration was negotiated by Beanstalk, a division of CAA Brand Management, which represents IPX as its interactive licensing agent. – BERNAMA
