I remember in the early 2000s, there was a brief craze with robotic pets. There were radio-controlled robots like RAD and autonomous toys like Tekno the Robotic Puppy; cute little novelties, but none of them were particularly similar to having a real pet. There was one, though, that came close: Sony’s robotic dog, Aibo. It could recognize voice commands and move on it’s own, as well as make general reactions to touch and movement. Sony released updated models of Aibo until 2006. This year, however, Aibo has been brought back to life, and is rocking quite the new look.
The new Aibo features advanced artificial intelligence that learns from how it interacts with its owner. Much like a real dog, its demands and lifestyle will conform to your own, albeit with a bit of training. Aibo is naturally curious and loves to learn new things and tricks, as well as be rewarded with head pats. Speaking of, Sony has swapped out the old tin can head for a more streamlined one with expressive LED display eyes that can recognize an owner on sight.
The first batch of commercial Aibo units will be launching soon, with the honorary moniker of “First Litter.” If you want one, though, you’re gonna have to pony up a few bananas shy of $3,000. I guess you have to decide how much a puppy you don’t have to clean up after is worth to you.
