As Anthropic continues expanding Claude’s hardware interaction capabilities, experiences that once lived only on a computer screen can now be brought to life through compact hardware devices. AI is starting to evolve from a “helper inside the screen” into a true “companion on your desk”.
Among today’s most talked-about Claude hardware interaction projects, M5Stack devices have emerged as one of the most popular platforms among developers, with official recommendations from Claude. More and more makers are using M5Stack hardware to build their own Claude Desktop Buddy devices—small companions that can display Claude’s status, notify users when authorization is needed, respond to interactions, and even act like a desktop pet while you work.
Within the M5Stack ecosystem, several representative Claude Buddy approaches have already emerged.
Claude’s Official Demo: Claude Desktop Buddy with StickC Plus
One of the first projects to spark widespread interest was Anthropic’s official public demo: Claude Desktop Buddy, built with ESP32 & Arduino on the M5Stack StickC Plus.
GitHub: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-desktop-buddy
At its core, Claude Desktop Buddy is a desktop companion that connects to Claude Desktop via BLE. Once connected, the device reacts to Claude’s working state in real time:
· It stays calm while idle
· Wakes up when a conversation begins
· Shows an active working state while Claude is busy
· Alerts the user when authorization is required
· Allows approvals or rejections directly on the device
It is much more than a simple status indicator, for it behaves more like a desktop pet with personality. The project includes 18 built-in ASCII pet characters, each with multiple animation states. It also supports custom GIF character packs, making it easy for developers to create their own personalized Buddy. On top of that, it includes interactive behaviors such as:
· Shake detection
· Flip-to-sleep
· Automatic screen timeout
· LED alerts during authorization requests
Depending on Claude’s state, the Buddy can appear sleepy, idle, busy, waiting for attention, celebrating, dizzy, or even showing affection—making the interaction feel much more lively and expressive.
Getting started is also relatively straightforward. Developers can flash the firmware to the StickC Plus using PlatformIO, enable Developer Mode in Claude Desktop, open the Hardware Buddy window, and pair the device over Bluetooth. Once connected, the desktop app and hardware can automatically reconnect and continuously stay in sync.
It is no surprise that StickC Plus was chosen for Claude’s first official example. With its built-in screen, buttons, IMU, and BLE, it already covers nearly all the core requirements of a Claude Buddy without needing additional peripherals. Its compact form factor makes it easy to hold in your hand or place directly on your desk. It works well as a status display while also remaining convenient for quick interactions. If you want to quickly experience Claude Buddy, or build an eye-catching AI desk companion, StickC Plus is a highly recommended choice.
Recommended in Anthropic’s Developer Conference: Build with Claude on Cardputer-Adv
Besides the BLE-based desktop pet approach, another highly interesting direction comes from Anthropic’s developer conference, Build with Claude, where M5Stack Cardputer-Adv is used as the core device and has been well received by participating developers.
Compared with StickC Plus, which focuses more on desktop presence and status feedback, the Cardputer-Adv route emphasizes something different: letting Claude Code directly participate in the hardware creation process itself. In other words, Claude can help not only write applications, but also assist with flashing, deployment, and iteration.
More info: https://claude.com/code-with-claude/makers
Technically, this solution follows a UIFlow + MicroPython rapid development path, combined with Claude Code and related skills for setup and deployment. The project repository already includes scripts, Buddy app packages, and an extensible app directory. Developers can either run the existing project directly or continue adding their own .py applications to expand functionality over time. For anyone who wants to experience the idea of “AI helping me build hardware applications”, Cardputer-Adv is a very representative and exciting option.
Cardputer-Adv itself is also well suited to this role. With its built-in keyboard and screen, interaction feels more natural, whether for navigating menus, displaying Claude status, or running lightweight applications. Combined with the ESP32-S3’s connectivity and expandability, it naturally fits the concept of a portable AI mini terminal. It can become: a weather assistant, a pixel pet, a pocket utility tool, or simply your own personalized Claude Buddy.
One of the biggest advantages of this workflow is how direct it feels. You connect the Cardputer-Adv, open Claude Code, and enter “m5-onboard go”.
From there, the toolchain can automatically handle device detection, firmware flashing, app installation, rebooting, and startup. This makes it especially suitable for hackathons, workshops, and rapid prototyping sessions—bringing the vision of “build what you imagine” much closer to reality.
More M5Stack Devices Are Joining the Claude Desktop Buddy Ecosystem
Beyond these two examples, many other M5Stack host devices are also well suited to Claude Buddy-style projects. The community is already beginning to adapt related ideas to devices such as StickC Plus2, StickS3, Paper, and more.
A good Desktop Buddy needs to bring together display, interaction, connectivity, and local processing, and these are exactly the strengths shared by many M5Stack host devices. Whether it is from the Core, Stick, Atom, Cardputer, or E-Paper product lines, M5Stack offers a broad and mature hardware portfolio for developers to choose from.
For Claude Buddy-style applications, devices with a screen, buttons, or input methods, sensors, BLE, or Wi-Fi connectivity are naturally strong candidates.
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M5Stack continues to be a go-to device for developers for several reasons:
· Ready to use out of the box — highly integrated and easy to develop with
· Low barrier to entry — support for multiple development platforms, including Arduino, UIFlow, ESP-IDF, MicroPython and more
· Great for visual presentation and demos — ideal for desktop setups, demos, workshops, exhibitions, and event showcases
· Complete hardware ecosystem — covering controllers, expansion modules, sensors, and accessories for fast prototyping and continuous expansion
· Large developer community — widely recognized by the global maker community, with abundant documentation and community resources
From Software Assistant to Physical Companion
The rise of Claude Buddy is just one example of how large-model AI is moving from the software world into the physical world. As more AI applications begin to leave the chat window and enter desktop devices, portable terminals, and real-world interaction scenarios, hardware is becoming an increasingly important bridge between AI and everyday life.
With its complete hardware ecosystem, highly integrated product design, and developer-friendly experience, M5Stack is becoming an important physical platform for developers around the world to connect large AI models with the real world. It is also opening up broader possibilities for AI desk companions, smart terminals, and innovative prototyping.