Mattel and Microsoft reveal Aristotle, a tabletop digital nanny for kids

Let's face it: The first digital assistants for the home--Amazon Echo and Google Home--often feel like simple Internet portals with thin veneers of humanity to make them feel more warm and fuzzy. But now Mattel is trying to go beyond that with Aristotle, a personality-driven hardware assistant designed just for kids. Through a partnership with Microsoft (which will lend its Cortana digital assistance technology to the project), the $249 Aristotle straddles the line between a digital nanny for parents and a teaching companion for kids. Though it all might sound a bit hokey, the hardware's pedigree is sound: Aristotle is the brainchild of of Mattel's nabi team, which use to be known as Fubu, the tablet company that Mattel bought in 2016. Aristotle consists of two components: a webcam (think baby monitor) and a cylindrical speaker that chats back and forth with kids.