A California company has turned Pixar’s famous hopping lamp into a lively desk companion. Interaction Labs has created Ongo, a robotic smart lamp that can move, listen, interpret its surroundings and chat with its owner. The design is clearly influenced by the spirit of Luxo Jr., yet Ongo has its own personality and an impressive set of features.
A promotional video shows the lamp swivelling towards objects and people with curious movements while offering small bits of help around the home. To help reassure users who are cautious about devices that watch their environment, Ongo comes with a pair of fun magnetic sunglasses that block its view whenever more privacy is desired.
Karim Rkha Chaham, co-founder and chief executive of Interaction Labs, explains that the robot has been designed to recognise individuals, adapt to their habits and anticipate what they might need. He describes the character as similar to a cat placed inside the frame of a table lamp, playful yet observant.
Reactions on X have been enthusiastic, with many calling the lamp charming and impressive. Some users were quick to say they would gladly have it at home because it feels friendly rather than unsettling. A few commented that it might be the cutest robot currently being developed.
Ongo’s movements were designed with help from Alec Sokolow, known for his Oscar-nominated work on Toy Story as well as other major films. As shown in the promotional clip, Ongo can rotate smoothly on its base and reposition its head in a way that calls back to Pixar’s iconic mascot.
The lamp can adjust its brightness, alter the angle of its “eyes” and move closer to assist with detailed tasks such as reading at night. It also offers cheerful reminders like “Do not forget your keys” or casual suggestions during cooking. One scene in the promo shows Ongo gently moving to the beat of music coming from another room.
Interaction Labs describes the product as something that can brighten both your workspace and your mood. The lamp is intended to bring personality, emotional awareness and small gestures of support throughout the day. It uses on-device processing for its camera input so that visual data stays within the lamp rather than being uploaded to the cloud.
Users who dislike its default voice need not worry, as both the voice and personality can be customised. Chaham has confirmed that the promotional footage is computer-generated but says that working prototypes are progressing and more demonstrations will be released soon.
Ongo is available for pre-order through a fully refundable priority access deposit of approximately AUD 76, which secures a place in the first production run. The deposit will be deducted from the final price, expected to be roughly AUD 468, with shipping planned for mid-2026.
Ongo’s roots clearly draw inspiration from Luxo Jr., the lamp that has appeared in Pixar’s production logo since Toy Story premiered in 1995. The original character was created in 1986 by director John Lasseter, inspired by his own Luxo brand lamp. Luxo Jr. even starred in a short film that year alongside a larger companion lamp.
Pixar itself has a long history, stretching from early ownership by George Lucas to its purchase by Steve Jobs in 1986. After producing a series of celebrated films, Disney acquired the studio in 2006, securing Luxo Jr.’s place as one of animation’s most recognisable icons.
