Have You Ever Bought Einstein’s Brain?

Have you ever considered the invisible, yet profoundly profitable, products in the market? Not the hardware or the software, but the emotion itself.

In 2023, China’s Taobao platform saw a peculiar bestseller: “Einstein’s Brain.” For less than a dollar, customers purchased a non-existent product, receiving a whimsical, randomized text message from the seller. This wasn’t a transaction of goods, but of curiosity, humour, and social currency.

This is the real lesson: in the AI era, emotional value drives differentiation and monetization.

The “Einstein’s Brain” phenomenon is more than a cultural quirk; it is a leading indicator. It underscores a critical strategic shift as AI advances: the commoditization of functionality. As AI models become increasingly ubiquitous, the competitive advantage of a purely functional product — one that works — rapidly erodes. The new battleground is not in utility, but in cultivating what is scarce: a genuine emotional connection with the user.

Case Study: BubblePal, The World’s First Mass-Market AI Toy Accessory

China’s Haivivi has launched the world’s first mass-market AI toy accessory, BubblePal — a safe, soft bubble device that transforms any plush toy into an interactive companion for children.

Although its functional specs are solid — multilingual chat, knowledge Q&A, and certified safety standards — its market success comes from addressing a deeper need. It sold over 250,000 units, generating roughly $14 million in revenue in under a year, because it solves for loneliness and impatience. By providing a patient and intelligent emotional companion, it helps children manage their emotions. This isn’t just a tool; it’s a relationship.

In the AI era, building a product with good quality and a fair price is simply table stakes. If your value proposition is purely functional, your customers will treat it as a commodity, spending as little as possible to acquire it and as little time as possible using it. This leads to a race to the bottom on price and a relentless cycle of churn.

Conversely, if you embed emotional value — creating what we call product stickiness — you fundamentally change the value equation. You create a long-term relationship with the customer, not just a one-time transaction. This elevates your brand beyond simple utility, fostering a loyalty that is far less sensitive to price fluctuations and competition. Look no further than the average person spending five hours a day on their smartphone. The device ceased being a tool years ago; it is now a central hub of our social and emotional lives.

AI Value-Creation Sessions

To help you navigate this strategic imperative, Mans International is launching the “AI Value-Creation” session series. This exclusive, invitation-only event is designed for a select group of tech founders, investors, and senior executives.

Our recent session explored how AI can unlock emotional value in products and drive sustainable growth.

Key takeaways included:

• The Mindset Shift: Reframing business models from functional utilities to emotional platforms.
• Monetization Levers: Pinpointing the specific opportunities unlocked by emotional value.
• The Blueprint for Construction: Step-by-step strategies to embed emotional value into products at the core development stage.

This session is offered complimentary to our valued clients, strategic partners, and affiliated organizations. Attendees left with actionable insights and a clear framework to accelerate AI-driven value creation in their businesses.

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AI Value-Creation Sessions

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