The Day a $99 Cube Named Sunny Walked Into My Life
So here’s the deal: A few weeks back, I got an email from a company called ChatMaster. They saw some of my AI content on YouTube and said, “Hey, want to check out this new cube we made? It’s got Alexa and ChatGPT inside it.”
And my first thought?
“Wait—did you just say you fused Amazon Alexa and ChatGPT into a desk toy?”
Naturally, I said yes.
Fast forward: I’ve been living with this thing—the ChatMaster Cube—for a solid week. I plugged it in, named her Sunny, and have been stress-testing it through the chaotic lens of my single-dad-content-creator life.
This blog post? It’s everything I wish someone else had written before I opened the box.
TL;DR (If You’re on the Toilet and Need the Quick Version)
- The ChatMaster Cube is a compact $99 desk gadget that merges Alexa and ChatGPT into a single voice-activated AI buddy.
- Alexa side? Instant responses, home automation, weather, timers. Works like your Echo Dot.
- ChatGPT side? It remembers your name (finally!), gives creative answers, and is actually fun to talk to. But it’s sloooow.
- Setup is doable but rough around the edges (think: sideloading apps and misnamed indicator lights).
- Speaker is okay. Not musical, but serviceable.
Check current price for the ChatMaster Cube on Amazon
Would I recommend it? Depends. But if you like early tech and want a hands-free ChatGPT that remembers your name, keep reading.
So What the Heck Is the ChatMaster Cube?
Imagine an Echo Dot got jealous of your phone’s ChatGPT app and tried to become a more helpful roommate.
That’s what the ChatMaster Cube is aiming to be: the world’s first “dual AI” assistant.
Here’s the geeky breakdown:
- OS: Linux
- CPU: Quad-core ARM
- Speaker: 3W mono driver with 2 passive radiators
- Mic Array: 2 far-field mics
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Voice Options: 6 ChatGPT voices
- Temperature Setting: 0.1 to 1.0 (controls how creative the AI gets)
In short: It’s a small cube that lets you talk to both Alexa and ChatGPT, and it sits quietly on your desk until you decide to ask it something absurd like, “Should I be worried about AI replacing my toddler?”
My favorite USB-C power adapter (since this cube doesn’t come with one
Unboxing It Like It’s 2008
The cube arrived in a minimalist box. Inside:
- The Cube (duh)
- USB-C cable (finally, a win)
- No power brick (of course—because apparently those are now collector’s items)
Physically, it feels light but a bit top-heavy. All the tech clearly lives in the top half where the speaker sits. Aesthetically? It’s not winning design awards, but it’s clean. Neutral. It doesn’t scream “AI overlord.”
Setup: Like IKEA Instructions Without Diagrams
- You download the ChatMaster app. Not on the Play Store yet, so you sideload it like a hacker.
- Create an account. You have to. There’s no way around it.
- Hold the button for 5 seconds until the ring flashes yellow (or orange? Depends on your screen calibration).
- Connect your Amazon account.
- Pick a ChatGPT voice (I went with “Sunny” because she sounds like someone who’d remind me to hydrate).
- Set your temperature. I used 0.7—just creative enough to be interesting without going full Clippy.
Setup time: 5-10 minutes. It’s not polished, but it’s not terrible.
Pro tip: Don’t do this when you’re already annoyed at your kids. You need some patience.
What It’s Like Living With Sunny: My AI Desk Roommate
I decided to go all in and use the ChatMaster Cube for a full day. Here’s how that went:
Morning Vibes: Weather & Waffle Questions
“Alexa, what’s the weather?”
Boom. Done. Just like any Echo.
Then I shift to ChatGPT mode:
“Sunny, what are three easy YouTube video ideas I can film in 15 minutes?”
She delivers. Smooth. Even follows up without me needing to say her name again. That’s big. Huge.
Midday Brainstorm Sprints
“Sunny, help me come up with titles for a blog post about AI gadgets.”
“Sunny, do you think creators will start using LLMs more for scripting in 2025?”
Each time, she responds—accurately, and with some pretty solid ideas.
But holy latency, Batman. You ask a question. There’s a pause. A longer pause. And then she speaks.
It’s… kind of like talking to someone who’s bad at improv. Still helpful, but you have to wait for them to process.
Evening Automation & Chill
I had Alexa dim my lights, turn on “Lo-Fi Chill,” and then asked Sunny to suggest a protein-heavy dinner using turkey and eggs.
She came through again. So we’re still friends.
Performance Breakdown: Where It Rocks & Where It Trips
The Good Stuff
- Memory: It remembers your name. I tested this three times.
- Hands-Free Follow-Up: No repeated wake words needed.
- Dual Function: Switch seamlessly between Alexa and GPT.
- Creativity: ChatGPT’s suggestions are genuinely useful (and customizable).
The Pain Points
- Lag: The voice response is slower than a YouTube apology video.
- App Experience: Sideloading is a barrier for some folks.
- Speaker Quality: Fine for voice. Not for tunes.
- No API Key Option: You can’t link your own OpenAI account (yet).
My go-to budget desktop speaker if you want better sound
Real Talk: ChatMaster Cube vs. Echo Dot vs. ChatGPT Mobile
| Feature | ChatMaster Cube | Echo Dot | ChatGPT App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice Assistant | Alexa + ChatGPT | Alexa | ChatGPT |
| Wake Word | “Alexa” + none | “Alexa” | Manual |
| Memory | Yes (GPT) | No | Yes |
| GPT Response Speed | Slow | N/A | Fast |
| Smart Home Control | Yes | Yes | No |
| Custom Prompts | No | No | Yes (kinda) |
| Model Switching | Not yet | N/A | Yes (if Pro) |
If you already own an Echo and use ChatGPT on your phone, this cube isn’t going to replace either. But it can enhance your workflow—especially if you brainstorm a lot or want to talk out ideas.
So Who’s This For?
- Content creators: Want to bounce title ideas or scripting prompts while stretching or cooking? This is your cube.
- Smart home nerds: It’ll play nice with your lights and routines.
- Digital minimalists: Keep your phone away, still get AI help.
- Tinkerers: If you’re okay with version 1.0 hiccups, this is fun to play with.
Skip it if:
- You demand blazing-fast responses.
- You hate sideloading apps.
- You want rich audio or speakerphone calls.
My Wishlist for Version 2.0
- ✅ Faster voice response times
- ✅ OpenAI account linking for memory and custom GPTs
- ✅ Wake word customization (let me call it Jarvis, please)
- ✅ Web-based app companion
- ✅ Model switching (let me try Claude or Gemini too)
They’re close to something amazing here. Just needs polish.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth $99?
Here’s where I landed:
If you’re someone who:
- Uses ChatGPT daily
- Talks to Alexa like she’s your roommate
- Needs a no-distraction way to brainstorm ideas
…then yes. This is a cool, new category of tool that honestly didn’t exist before. I keep mine on my desk and use it when I want to riff ideas without being sucked into apps.
But if you want perfect UX and sub-second response times? Wait for v2.
Grab the ChatMaster Cube here if you’re ready to test it yourself
FAQs (aka: Stuff I Googled So You Don’t Have To)
Q: Does it work offline?
Nope. Needs Wi-Fi.
Q: Can you disable Alexa or ChatGPT?
Not currently. They coexist.
Q: Will it remember me across devices?
No, memory is local to the cube.
Q: Can I use it with OpenAI Pro?
Not yet—can’t plug in your key.
Q: Is the app available in the App Store?
Not yet. Still beta.
Q: Can I use this as a Bluetooth speaker?
Nope. Strictly AI assistant.
Over to You
Would you use something like this in your daily life? Or is this one of those gadgets that sounds cooler on paper?
Drop a comment below, share your setup with me on X @omgitsderek, or tag me in your test run if you snag one.
Until next time: love your faces, stay weird, and please don’t ask your AI assistant if it’s sentient.
Peace out, nerds. 🚀