Toyota's pint-size travel buddy

Toyota Motor Corp. has long tried to pitch its vehicles as "irreplaceable companions." But in this age of artificial intelligence, the company is taking the man-machine relationship to a new level. Enter Toyota's newest companion: the palm-sized Kirobo Mini robot. The 4-inch-tall black-and-white talking cherub, complete with cutesy yellow eyes, red boots and a Toyota logo emblazoned on its chest, takes its name from the Japanese words for "hope" and "robot." Toyota plans to start selling the robot through dealerships in Japan next year for 39,800 ( 390).