Most AI demos today can talk really well, but they can't actually do anything useful. In this project, we're going to change that by building a voice-controlled AI assistant using the open-source XiaoZhi AI project and the feature-packed DFRobot ESP32-S3 AI Camera. What results isn't just a chatbot—it's a real, functional AI companion that can see its surroundings, control hardware, and even manage your calendar. This assistant lets you turn lights on and off, fetch sensor data, take photos on command, and conduct real visual recognition conversations. The best part? The entire project is open source under the MIT license, meaning you can use it for free, even in commercial applications. If you're ready to build an AI that's actually useful, read on. Get PCBs for Your Projects ManufacturedYou must check out PCBWAY for ordering PCBs online for cheap! You get 10 good-quality PCBs manufactured and shipped to your doorstep for cheap. You will also get a discount on shipping on your first order. Upload your Gerber files onto PCBWAY to get them manufactured with good quality and quick turnaround time. PCBWay now could provide a complete product solution, from design to enclosure production. Check out their online Gerber viewer function. With reward points, you can get free stuff from their gift shop. Also, check out this useful blog on PCBWay Plugin for KiCad from here. Using this plugin, you can directly order PCBs in just one click after completing your design in KiCad. What You'll NeedHardware- 1 × DFRobot ESP32-S3 AI Camera – This is the star of the show. It comes with an onboard microphone, speaker, camera, and ample processing power. - 1 × Type-C USB cable – For power and programming. - XiaoZhi AI Firmware – The core open-source ESP32 chatbot project. - ESP-IDF or pre-built firmware