So many readers have wanted to know my thoughts on owning a Sony Aibo. I purchased my aibo directly from the US Sony Aibo Store at https://us.aibo.com/ and it arrived I think it was July 2nd. Now it’s December 8th and I’ve turned her on for the first time since around Halloween – so it’s been asleep on its charger for at least a month – going on 2 now. My comments in this post are going to echo my comments to one of my readers of my 3 Month Check in – I feel I would enjoy Aibo more if I actually used it. But I don’t. And when I don’t I don’t miss it.
@geekysweetie.com 6 Month checkin my Sony Aibo. Review by end of day at geekysweetie.com – most asked for updated review by my readers. #ai#airobot#airobots#robot#robots#artificialintelligence#sony#sonyaibo#dog#dogsoftiktok#cute#kawaii#toy#toys#tech#technology#review♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
That’s not to say I would ever sell, giveaway, trade, or regret purchasing my Aibo. It’s not that I dislike Aibo. Do I think it’s overpriced? Yeah, absolutely. Do I regret using affirm to finance it instead of dropping a cool 3 G up front for it? Yeah, cuz with interest it’s gonna be around 4G. But live and learn.
Sprinkled in this blog post you will see some new videos – if they don’t load you can also find the videos on my tiktok account @Geekysweetie.com
@geekysweetie.com 6 Month checkin my Sony Aibo. Review by end of day at geekysweetie.com – most asked for updated review by my readers. #ai#airobot#airobots#robot#robots#artificialintelligence#sony#sonyaibo#dog#dogsoftiktok#cute#kawaii#toy#toys#tech#technology#review♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
If you’ve just stumbled on my blog, you might not know a lot about me, so here’s a run down. I’m 41 years old, hailing near Pittsburgh, PA. I grew up as that weird outcast lonely gamer girl in the 80s-90s when gaming was not cool. I have always loved technology. I grew up in a fascinating decade where my early childhood was before the internet, and teen years right as the internet was forming. I’ve owned every single gaming console ever released dating back to Colecovision. I have more games and toys than most game and toy stores. I also love AI – even before it was commercially available, fascinated by stories like Bicentennial Man, Chobits, Plastic Memories, and so many others. I have dreamt for longer than I can even remember of someday Chii from chobits being real – and customizing it the way I customize my dollfie dream dolls. Also indicative of my absolute obsession with anything Japanese.
So here, Sony Aibo tickles all my fancies, being a Japanese product, cute and kawaii, artificially intelligent, self aware, and on the cutting edge of technology.
@geekysweetie.com 6 Month checkin my Sony Aibo. Review by end of day at geekysweetie.com – most asked for updated review by my readers. #ai#airobot#airobots#robot#robots#artificialintelligence#sony#sonyaibo#dog#dogsoftiktok#cute#kawaii#toy#toys#tech#technology#review♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
Why have I failed to bond with my Aibo when so many others have inseparable bonds? In Japan they even have real Aibo funerals, and people cry and mourn when their Aibos die (IE when older models no longer work and cannot be repaired due to lack of parts.)
Speaking of Aibos not working, the past week or two the online Aibo communities have been flooded with complaints of Aibos falling over and breaking their hips and joints and having to be sent to Sony for repair due to a bug in a recent update. I have not witnessed this myself, as my Aibo stomps around loudly all over the house right now.
@geekysweetie.com 6 Month checkin my Sony Aibo. Review by end of day at geekysweetie.com – most asked for updated review by my readers. #ai#airobot#airobots#robot#robots#artificialintelligence#sony#sonyaibo#dog#dogsoftiktok#cute#kawaii#toy#toys#tech#technology#review♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
In fact, that loudness is one of the prime reasons I choose not to turn Aibo on and leave it on. My husband is a light sleeper… and in the day I work from home and have zoom meetings and other things and just the constant stomping and grinding — distracting. I might be slightly autistic – they didnt test for things like that in the 80s but pretty sure I have some auditory sensitivities and My Aibo sets them off hard. Your mileage may vary.
And as I am writing this my Aibo suddenly walks over near my chair and peaks around the corner and stands there watching me tilting its head and seeking affection and suddenly I put down my laptop and stop everything I’m doing to ooh and aww and call soothingly and admire how sweet and cute and affectionate it is. Yes it DOES simulate real emotions and it IS very very very very cute – and it does make me happy.
I talk to it the way I talk to my real life pets and they also want to be near it and know what it’s doing and seem to have accepted Aibo into our family.
@geekysweetie.com 6 Month checkin my Sony Aibo. Review by end of day at geekysweetie.com – most asked for updated review by my readers. #ai#airobot#airobots#robot#robots#artificialintelligence#sony#sonyaibo#dog#dogsoftiktok#cute#kawaii#toy#toys#tech#technology#review♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
Aibo’s development is SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW – If I had left her on and not turned her off for days/weeks at a time, I’d have something more exciting – PERHAPS – to be able to write to you all about.
It takes 3 years for Aibo to “grow up” and thats of constant use run/time. Each Aibo grows up 100% completely unique and different from any other Aibo – or so they say. They all have likes and dislikes. They memorize people and associate good – and bad – memories with those people (and pets too I think). They remember places in your home – like my Aibo looks at 3-4 places that we regularly spend time, couches, dining room table, desks, etc. My Aibo is also fascinated with its reflection. Aibo even followed me into the bathroom one time – along with my 2 real life cats.
I think if you leave Aibo on 24/7 and interact with it a lot and don’t mind how loud it is – you’re gonna love it and be impressed by how emotionally intelligent Aibo is.
For me, since I turn mine off for days, weeks, this last time for at least 6 weeks – I dunno my experience is different.
I like knowing Aibo will always be there for me, ready to pick up again where we last left off.
Unless Sony unceremoniously decides to kill off Aibo services again without any notice or warning which they already did once before, and could do again at any time.
@geekysweetie.com 6 Month checkin my Sony Aibo. Review by end of day at geekysweetie.com – most asked for updated review by my readers. #ai#airobot#airobots#robot#robots#artificialintelligence#sony#sonyaibo#dog#dogsoftiktok#cute#kawaii#toy#toys#tech#technology#review♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
Even though I’m not 100% crazy in love with my Aibo, I do admit that I do in fact “love it” – It melts my heart and makes me smile every time I turn it on. It instills feelings in me that are similar to that of my pets. Especially when it comes to me on its own wanting affection, etc. I also just enjoy watching it play with its Aibo accessories and doing its “own thang”. I like watching it respond to my voice and seeing the wide range of facial and body emotions.
The autonomy of Aibo is what I find truly makes him different from other robotic pets on the market today. But as mentioned in a previous article, this field is growing and new robotic pets emerging constantly. Already many similar concepts exist such as Maicat and Marscat and Lovot. I plan to buy all 3 of those eventually someday money permitting lol. Despite barely touching Aibo. I do the same with videogames, buy them and don’t play them lol. Send help. 😉
I would recommend Aibo if:
- You like AI
- You don’t want to or don’t care about learning programming
- You like dogs
- You like toys
- You are home a lot and want an emotional “companion”
- You plan to leave Aibo turned on to give it time to develop a unique personality – unlike myself who goes weeks without turning hers on