ToyTalk: Create Talkative AI Characters in Just 3 Minutes!

Introducing ToyTalk

On August 8, 2025, Bridgewell Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo and led by CEO Masahiko Ishibashi, unveiled the beta version of ToyTalk, a groundbreaking voice AI service that allows users to create and chat with customizable AI characters in real time. Unlike the complex programming and expertise previously required to design AI personalities tailored for specific domains, ToyTalk empowers anyone to construct unique characters with just a simple combination of behavioral attributes and specific knowledge—up to a maximum of 3000 characters.

Broad Character Selection

Users can choose from a wide variety of AI characters for different purposes, including fortune-tellers, casual chat companions, and helpful daily assistants. For example, you can recreate historical figures (as long as their copyright has expired) and ask about life in their era, or generate a Q&A chatbot with custom knowledge input.

ToyTalk’s voice AI can interact as fluidly as a human, with a response time of just 0.3 seconds. This near-instantaneous reaction creates a seamless conversation experience, enabling users to engage with their AI companions without the typical hesitations that might come from traditional AI systems.

The Context of AI Utilization

Despite the global AI boom, characterized by innovations like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Japan's utilization rates remain significantly lower than those in other countries. Many users in Japan primarily leverage AI for work-related tasks. According to the report ‘AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, But Gaps Remain’, the average global usage rate for generative AI is 72%, whereas Japan lags behind at only 51%.

Through ToyTalk, the company hopes to promote the use of generative AI by making it freely available as a tool that enhances everyday life. The voice interface allows individuals who may struggle with text input or those who are busy with their hands to easily engage with the technology.

How ToyTalk Works

AI applications span various fields such as coding, writing, and image generation, but specialized AI often requires extensive training and fine-tuning which can be barriers for many potential users. A significant factor preventing users from adopting AI is a lack of understanding about its capabilities and functionality. Many potential users cite reasons like not knowing how to use it or believing it’s unnecessary for their lives. ToyTalk aims to bridge this gap by simplifying the AI interaction process significantly. By structuring character commands as intuitively as learning to ride a bike with training wheels, ToyTalk makes it accessible to everyone, even those without prior tech experience.

Launch and Pricing Information

The beta version of ToyTalk became available on August 8, 2025, at no cost to users. Currently, there are no paid plans, and the company intends to provide regular updates about future offerings. While the service is free, to address security concerns, there are certain cooldown periods imposed on continuous use. There are also plans to incorporate advertisements in the future to offset operating costs.

Target Audience and Future Plans

In conjunction with this announcement, ToyTalk is reaching out to both general consumers and corporate clients. The platform is developed to be as easy to use as a calculator—intended for everyone, including busy homemakers looking for cooking tips while working in the kitchen.

The team plans to use social media and online advertising to reach a broad audience, including influencer-led video content to help users understand its functionalities clearly.

On the corporate side, discussions are already underway with various municipalities and organizations looking to implement ToyTalk. For instance, museums can create AI guides easily without incurring high setup or maintenance costs. By simply generating a QR code linked to a customized AI guide, they can make informative resources multilingual, aiming especially to accommodate the increasing number of foreign visitors.

ToyTalk is also exploring partnerships with businesses that could benefit from an FAQ bot or a character-driven storytelling system. One notable example is in the childcare space, where the service could be utilized to help explain complex systems to parents.

Bridgewell Corporation invites interested companies and municipalities keen on conducting pilot projects to reach out for collaboration opportunities.

Examples of Usage

- Vtuber Engagement: Interactive streams with fans, providing a 24-hour chatbot service.
- Educational Purposes: Conversational English learning tools and simulations of historical figures.
- Corporate Communication: Custom FAQ bots that narrate brand stories to enhance consumer interaction.

About Bridgewell Corporation

Bridgewell Corporation aims to connect people and organizations, creating new value and opportunities in society. Alongside ToyTalk, it operates a subscription service for diapers (Omutsu Company) and offers educational consulting services.