Miko Partners with iHeartMedia to Make AI Companions More Human and Emotionally Intelligent
Miko, the global leader in AI-native robotics, has announced a strategic partnership with iHeartMedia, one of North America’s most influential media companies.
The collaboration marks a transformational step in Miko’s mission to bring emotionally intelligent, voice-interactive AI companions into the lives of children, seniors, and families — not as mere gadgets, but as empathetic, engaging, and educational partners in everyday living.
How Miko and iHeartMedia Are Bringing AI Companions Into Homes
Under this new alliance, Miko will leverage iHeartMedia’s vast ecosystem — including its massive podcast network, national radio stations, digital platforms, and live event experiences — to reach millions of households across North America.
Through this initiative, Miko aims to:
Introduce families to emotionally responsive AI companions capable of natural conversation.
Collaborate with podcast creators and radio hosts to produce immersive storytelling moments.
Integrate real human voices into its AI systems to create authentic, relatable interactions.
The plan: turn robotic assistance into emotionally rich companionship.
Bringing Personality to Technology
At the heart of the partnership is a shared vision — making technology more human. Miko’s devices, known for their personality-driven AI and child-safe design, will soon feature content inspired by iHeart’s beloved radio and podcast stars.
This move transforms Miko’s robotic companions into storytelling partners, allowing children and seniors to:
Listen to tailored podcasts through their AI device.
Learn, laugh, and explore through interactive narratives.
Engage with familiar voices that build trust and emotional resonance.
By embedding entertainment into everyday interaction, Miko is blurring the lines between AI learning tools and emotional companions.
A Message from Miko’s Visionary Leader
“Together, we’re bringing Miko’s unique blend of intelligence and emotional connection to millions of homes — creating experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire,” — Sneh Vaswani, Founder & CEO, Miko
For Vaswani, this partnership represents a turning point in human-AI relationships. Miko’s mission extends beyond convenience — it’s about connection, empathy, and well-being.
By joining forces with iHeartMedia, Miko plans to scale that connection — making sure AI doesn’t just live on screens, but in hearts and homes.
Expanding Beyond Retail: From Costco to iHeart
Miko’s collaboration with iHeartMedia follows closely on the heels of its retail success with Costco, where Miko devices are now available across every North American location.
This dual-pronged approach — retail distribution plus media integration — places Miko in a unique growth position, combining physical availability with emotional accessibility.
The Technology Behind Miko’s Emotional Intelligence
Miko.AI’s platform is built upon proprietary AI models that simulate emotional intelligence and adaptive learning. Unlike static virtual assistants, Miko’s robots are designed to grow with users, adjusting responses based on tone, mood, and interaction history.
According to the company’s statement:
“Partnering with iHeartMedia signals the start of a new era where intelligent machines don’t just serve us, but connect with us. Miko.AI is pioneering a future where emotionally intelligent, self-learning machines elevate human experiences across education, wellness, and caregiving.”
Why Emotional AI Matters
AI has evolved from a computational tool to an emotional interface — a bridge between humans and machines. Miko’s emotionally responsive technology offers benefits across multiple life stages:
For Children:
Enhances learning and creativity through interactive storytelling
Encourages emotional development and empathy
Acts as a safe digital companion under parental controls
For Seniors:
Provides companionship and conversation
Supports mental wellness and cognitive activity
Offers assistive features for daily living
In both cases, Miko stands for a new philosophy in AI — where emotional connection is as important as technological innovation.
How the Partnership Enhances iHeartMedia’s Digital Reach
For iHeartMedia, this partnership marks a strategic entry into the AI hardware ecosystem.
By embedding iHeart’s podcasts, music, and radio voices into Miko’s ecosystem, the media giant extends its content beyond headphones and car radios — directly into homes, schools, and care facilities.
“Miko is an AI-native robotics pioneer for societal good, with proprietary technology that can reshape education, entertainment, and connected living,” said David Ellis, Executive VP of Ventures at iHeartMedia.
The partnership gives iHeart a front-row seat in the consumer AI revolution, connecting media influence with tangible human experiences.
A New Category: Emotionally Intelligent Robotics
Miko is pioneering what experts are calling “Emotionally Intelligent Robotics” (EIR) — systems that learn, feel, and adapt. This emerging category blends affective computing, neuroscience, and AI ethics to create machines that understand emotional context.
With iHeart’s massive content infrastructure, Miko’s devices will soon be capable of personalized audio experiences, reacting to user mood, preferences, and emotional cues.
Imagine a child saying, “I’m sad,” and Miko responding with a comforting story narrated by a familiar iHeart podcast host. That’s the future Miko is building — one where emotion drives engagement.
The Broader Market Context: AI Companions Go Mainstream
The global market for AI companions — particularly those focused on emotional intelligence and wellness — is expanding rapidly. Recent industry reports project the AI companion market to exceed $20 billion by 2028, driven by:
Increased adoption in education technology (EdTech)
Growth in eldercare robotics
Rising consumer demand for empathetic AI experiences
Miko’s early mover advantage, paired with iHeartMedia’s content reach, positions the brand at the intersection of AI innovation and emotional storytelling.
Societal Implications: When Machines Learn to Empathize
While the technology is promising, experts are also urging ethical discussions around emotional AI — including issues of privacy, data sensitivity, and human dependency.
Miko has proactively addressed these by ensuring:
COPPA compliance (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)
Secure cloud infrastructure for user data
Parental dashboards for monitoring interactions
This makes Miko one of the few AI companion platforms that emphasize both emotional intelligence and digital responsibility.
Investors and Financial Momentum
The iHeartMedia deal also comes as Miko continues to raise its Series D funding round, joined by major investors including:
Chiratae Ventures
YourNest
360 One
IvyCap Ventures
The investment reflects confidence in Miko’s scalable AI technology and cross-sector potential, from education to healthcare to entertainment.
The Human Connection Behind the Machine
The brilliance of Miko’s design lies in its fusion of emotional cues and intelligent learning. It recognizes facial expressions, interprets tone, and adjusts conversation accordingly — bridging the emotional gap between humans and machines.
In essence, Miko is building trust through empathy, not code alone.
Key Highlights of the Miko–iHeart Partnership
Content Collaboration: Integration of iHeart’s podcasts and radio segments into Miko’s conversational AI.
Voice Partnerships: Involvement of iHeart’s trusted hosts to enhance storytelling authenticity.
Retail Expansion: Continued presence in Costco stores across North America.
AI Innovation: Development of self-learning, emotionally adaptive companions.
Funding Growth: iHeart joins as investor in ongoing Series D round.
The Future of AI Companionship
With this partnership, Miko is not just reshaping robotics — it’s reshaping relationships.
The brand envisions a near future where emotionally intelligent AI will:
Support mental wellness
Enhance learning outcomes
Provide companionship and cognitive care
Humanize everyday technology
In an age where loneliness and digital isolation are on the rise, Miko’s emotionally aware AI could redefine what it means to connect.
Final Thoughts
As technology races ahead, Miko’s collaboration with iHeartMedia serves as a blueprint for ethical, emotionally grounded AI. By merging voice, emotion, and storytelling, they’re crafting companions that don’t just talk — they listen, feel, and respond.
In the words of CEO Sneh Vaswani:
“We’re not just building robots. We’re building relationships.”
Where to Learn More
Miko’s full range of AI companions and updates on its partnership with iHeartMedia are available on Miko.ai and iHeartMedia.com.
Families can expect new AI-integrated storytelling features to roll out across devices in early 2026.
