Talk that talk, Barbie: why the doll is FINALLY getting vocal chords

It was announced earlier this year that a talking Barbie doll is on its way – and now she's very almost here. 

Yes, Hello Barbie is the brand new, soon to be unleashed Mattel doll that will be able to speak back (we bet she's sassy). 

And while the 'cool or just plain creepy' debate has raged since the announcement was made back in February, the doll is nevertheless sure to be top of numerous Christmas wish-lists in the run-up to the festive season. 

"Hello Barbie is by far the most advanced to date in a new generation of AI toys whose makers share the aspiration of Gepetto: to persuade children that their toys are alive—or, at any rate, are something more than inanimate," wrote the New York Times earlier this year.

Hello Barbie will also be programmed to connect to the Apple Cloud, just like Siri. 

Her language will evolve too as you speak to her, and she can also adapt her language preferences. 

How exactly? Well, the chic necklace on Hello Barbie will feature both a microphone and a speaker that will help enable the conversations. 

Of course, she does require a Wi-Fi connection to talk, though kids (big and small alike) can naturally enough continue to play with the doll the old-fashioned way when the internet is down.