AI Santa Claus that 'remembers' children calls them: A moving six-month story experience

Niusia Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yukihiro Kashiguchi) will launch 'Santa-Claus.AI,' an experiential service where Santa Claus calls children, in English-speaking regions starting June 1, 2026. Concurrently, the company has begun offering white-label/OEM licenses to partner companies responsible for domestic deployment in Japan. In addition to the Santa Claus version, a 'Corporate Character Version' will be available, allowing partners to deploy similar year-round experiences using their own characters. Voice interaction technology via generative AI has reached a practical level for children. While major tech firms like OpenAI have entered the seasonal market with features like ChatGPT's 'Santa Mode,' these are typically limited to December and designed for users aged 13 and older, rather than being specifically tailored for preschoolers and early elementary students. Meanwhile, the domestic market is expanding. According to the Yano Research Institute, the child-related business market in fiscal 2024 reached 10.9 trillion yen, a 2.2% increase year-on-year. Despite the declining birthrate, spending per child is rising, fueling demand for high-value AI-driven experiences. Santa-Claus.AI provides a 'continuous' experience, with Santa calling children repeatedly over approximately 30 weeks from June to December 24. Children are appointed as 'Secret Santa Helpers' and become protagonists in a story. The AI remembers all past conversations, addressing children by name and referencing their interests and growth. The service includes a 'Parent Directive' feature, allowing guardians to set conversation guidelines, and is designed in compliance with child protection laws such as COPPA. Japanese partner companies can offer this AI platform under their own brands or use their own characters to build year-round engagement beyond the Christmas season. Specific terms and costs will be discussed in individual consultations.