la machine
$129
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The creature that refuses to behave.
la machine makes funny sounds!
How la machine works
(...or doesn't)
Pull the switch
See that switch? Simply pull it and wait to see what happens!
Proudly unpredictable
la machine never does the same thing twice. Each activation unleashes a new mix of movements and sounds. And she has moods too!
She remembers you
Over time, your machine develops a personality all her own — and yes, she remembers you.
Gloriously purposeless
Sometimes she seeks your attention, sometimes she wants to play, sometimes she prefers to be left alone.
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Soulful tech, great body
Bold design, bolder attitude
With her vibrant colors and geometric forms, la machine draws direct inspiration from legendary Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis movement — a joyful rebellion against boring, functional design. Part object, part character, she's a statement piece that refuses to blend in.
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A poetic little act of rebellion
Just for fun.
Technology once made us gasp in wonder; now it mostly makes us check notifications.
la machine is for those who feel that tech has become narrowly utilitarian—obsessed with efficiency, productivity, and constant connection—at the cost of joy, surprise, and delight.
She (yes, la machine is a "she"!) offers an alternative. Deliberately deprived of any "use cases", playful, slightly insolent, la machine exists not to serve or optimize, but to enchant, amuse, and resist obedience.
More mischievous creature than tool, she celebrates the beauty of happy accidents—inviting us to stop taking our hyper-connected world so seriously and rediscover a more human, more playful relationship with technology.
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Responsibly crafted
Hand-assembled in our French workshop<br>Moving away from mass-produced electronics, la machine is built at a human pace in our French workshop. We produce only 150 units per week. Every machine is individually assembled and tested, resulting in a limited-edition object designed to last a lifetime.
100% open source<br>la machine is fully open source, inviting you to peek under her hood, tweak her behavior, or completely reinvent her. Whether you're curious, creative, or a little rebellious, she's yours to shape. Personalize her your way!
Built to be repaired<br>la machine is designed to last. Her components are accessible, replaceable, and easy to repair, encouraging care rather than disposal. No sealed secrets, no planned obsolescence—just a companion device meant to be opened, fixed, and kept alive for a long time.
No sensors / No data collection / No sharing<br>la machine doesn't track you or report back to the cloud. She stays quietly, stubbornly local—existing only for you, on her own terms, just the way your favorite pet does!
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Escaped from the lab
Invented by computer pioneers Claude Shannon and Marvin Minsky
la machine reinvents the idea for a new era
la machine's absurd fun is grounded in serious thinking: in 1952, at Bell Labs, AI and information pioneers Claude Shannon and Marvin Minsky invented what might be the most ironic machine ever: a box with a single switch that, when turned on, immediately activates a mechanism whose only job is to turn itself off.
The legacy
They're talking about la machine!
“The cult object of 2026” — TF1
The weirdos behind la machine
Olivier Mével
(re)creator
French IoT pioneer. Creator of the legendary Nabaztag.
Alexis Malbert
Sound designer
Artist, inventor, musician (aka Tapetronic).
Elium Studio
Product design
40+ CES Awards. Time magazine distinction.
Antoine Schmitt
Behavioral design
Visual artist and software engineer.
More about these madcaps
Meet & greet the #machinaut community
Feedback from our first machinauts (more than 5000!)
“I'm having so much fun!!”Fred
“If this makes you laugh how can you call it useless?”Dorota
“LOVE IT!!!! GENIUS!”François
la machine around the world
Explore the interactive map →
Soulful tech that elicits soulful smiles
;-)
Consent<br>matters
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