Dhaka, Sept. 30 -- OpenAI has launched a new AI assistant called Dots, complete with an adorable mascot -- and it is no accident that it looks the way it does.

The ChatGPT maker joins Meta, which earlier this month unveiled its own cuddly AI assistant called Muse, reports The Independent.

Both are versions of so-called agentic AI -- tools capable of taking autonomous actions in the real world, such as organising schedules, sending emails and booking appointments.

But beyond the technology, the two products share something else: a deliberate design strategy built around cuteness.

Research backs up the approach. A 2024 study published in Research in Interactive Marketing found that the baby-like and whimsical appearance of AI agents dri...