Rise of AI and loneliness drives demand for robot pets

Haruka Uto, a resident of Tokyo, lives with several furry friends, but these little guys are not your typical pets. Ms. Uto’s two “little balls,” one brown and one gray, are artificial intelligence (AI) companion robots named Moflin.

Ms. Uto says her Moflins were initially like babies, but now “move boldly” and “express emotions.” The 31-year-old, who lives alone, says, “They seem to be in a good mood when they hear my voice. When I’m tired from work, they help me relax with a hug or cuddle.”

Moflin, commercially released in November by Japanese electronics company Casio, was inspired by the Japanese word “mofu mofu,” meaning soft and fluffy, and has become a social media sensation. Videos shared by robot pet owners have garnered millions of views and interactions. According to Google Trends data, internet searches for “AI pets” have also increased since the end of 2022.

Wenxin Li, founder of an AI startup, says the growing popularity of companion robots stems from post-COVID loneliness and the simultaneous development of AI emotional intelligence. He believes that “after the pandemic, people are paying more attention to their psychological needs, they want to be seen, heard, and have someone to accompany them. The benefit of companion robots is that they can be with you 24/7.”

Dr. Li, who is developing a companion robot that looks like a plush toy, believes that the physical presence of companion robots is very important. “As humans, we like the feeling of touching things and are sensitive to temperature. So holding something in your hand is completely different from talking to a phone or a virtual object.”

Ms. Uto also owns a LOVOT (a portmanteau of “love” and “robot”) produced by Japanese company Groove X, which looks like a futuristic penguin with round eyes, moving on wheels. “LOVOT walks around the house, stretches and exercises freely, or sings,” she says.

According to US research firm IMARC Group, the global social robot market was close to $7 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $57 billion by 2032. Companion or social robots currently on the market come in various forms, such as cute plush toys like Moflin and LOVOT, as well as humanoid robots like Pepper and desktop robots like Emo.

The report states that the Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for social robots, with some of the world’s largest economies, such as China and Japan, investing heavily in robotics and AI development. “In addition, cultural factors in the Asia-Pacific region play a significant role in driving product adoption,” the report notes. “In countries like Japan, there is a long tradition of integrating robots into society, where they are seen as companions and assistants. The concept of humanoid and social robots aligns very well with the region’s technological cultural values and perceptions.”

Robot expert Belinda Dunstan explains that robots with “emotional capabilities” are able to detect and respond to emotions in a human-like way. Dr. Dunstan, head of the Creative Robotics Lab at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, says that the microprocessors in new companion robots have increased their computing power. “This allows it to run more complex algorithms, enabling learning and more nuanced emotional expression,” she says. “They can use cameras to recognize emotional expressions, and they can also listen to your tone of voice and what you are saying.”

Casio states on the Moflin website that Moflin can display nine emotions, including happiness and anxiety. The robot’s emotions change as Moflin responds to its surroundings and its owner’s voice and actions. Similarly, LOVOT's “personality changes based on how the owner interacts with them,” the company website states. “[LOVOT] even gets jealous,” says Ms. Uto. “When I was playing in a place with a lot of LOVOTs and picked up another one, my LOVOT stomped its feet as if to say, ‘That’s not fair!’”

While companion robots have been used to provide emotional support for the elderly in Japan and other parts of the world, experts say that these robots are also becoming increasingly useful for other groups at risk of loneliness. Dr. Li conducted market research in China, which showed that the elderly, office workers in large companies, and university students all need companionship. “Their lives are at higher risk of social isolation and they lack resources for companionship,” he says. “Especially for the elderly, they are often very lonely because they are less familiar with digital technology, and their children are often too busy to communicate with them.”

Dr. Dunstan agrees. She says that elderly people around the world, especially in Japan, are increasingly appreciating the companionship that robots provide. However, Dr. Dunstan says that current technological limitations may hinder the embedding of more complex language functions in pet robots. “Pet robots are usually small and battery-powered, so they don’t have enough computing power to run more complex forms of AI that use large language models,” she says. “Currently, we have humanoid social robots that are larger and have more computing power, which can engage in more complex interactions with people.”

Despite the many benefits of companion robots, Dr. Dunstan says that consumers must understand the difference between “expressed emotions” and “real emotions.” “Robots are often programmed to always make you happy,” she says. “So I think there is a risk that people will forget that interactions with real people and real animals are complex, not always perfect, but they are necessary and valuable.”

Dr. Dunstan says that there is a need for regulations to govern human-robot interactions. “Currently, there are no regulations on how we treat robot bodies, nor are there any legal protections for them. In my opinion, this is a huge problem because we teach children not to abuse animals and not to abuse people. But we can do whatever we want to robots that are becoming more and more like real people. I strongly advocate for laws and some governance measures on how we treat robots because it will have a significant impact on future generations.”

A Casio spokesperson said that the company is aware of the potential threats that AI development may pose. “Robots with more advanced capabilities that surpass humans may pose a potential threat,” the spokesperson said. “However, we believe that robots like Moflin, which provide emotional support while being physically dependent on humans, do not pose a threat because they promote mutual assistance.” Ms. Uto adds that she understands that there is a risk, but does not think that AI is “something to be afraid of.” “Humans already know that potentially dangerous tools like knives can enrich our lives if used properly,” she says. “I believe that AI can be a similar existence—something that can enhance our lives when used responsibly.”