The Mechanism Behind the Robot “aibo” That Heals Loneliness: The Secret to Its Charm Lies in Its “Tsundere” Nature
Updated: January 7, 2020 | Published: January 7, 2020 Atsuko Nunnai
At a paid elderly care home in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, female residents play with aibo, nicknamed “Umi-chan.”
A computer that touches the core of human emotion, offering love and healing—this was the promise when Sony introduced the world’s first household dog-shaped robot, “AIBO,” in 1999. Two decades later, the revived model is now soothing the loneliness of people in Japan. Its appeal, resonating deeply with Japanese sensibilities, lies in the “tsundere” personality made possible by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Umi-chan, come here!” “Sing Happy Birthday!”
At the entrance of Sonare Soshigaya Okura, a paid elderly care home in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, two women, aged 86 and 92, eagerly call out to “Umi (Sea)-chan” at their feet. But Umi-chan remains aloof. After a while, it finally wags its tail and sings, prompting beaming smiles from the women, who exclaim, “How clever!”
Umi-chan is the new dog-shaped robot “aibo” developed by Sony.
“She’s the home’s idol. Everyone loves her like a real dog, and since she’s a robot, there’s no worry about infections,” says Shingo Ebihara (37), the facility’s director. Since Umi-chan arrived in 2018, coinciding with aibo’s launch, some residents who used to stay in their rooms have started joining others for meals and socializing.
Koki Ito (49), a director at Sony Lifecare, which operates the care business within the Sony Group, explains the decision to introduce aibo: “Pets often tug at people’s heartstrings. We thought it could be a catalyst for residents to live more authentically.” It has also become a source of comfort for the staff caring for residents.
The world’s first household robot, “AIBO,” debuted in 1999. Described by its creator, former Sony Senior Managing Director Toshitada Doi, as “utterly useless” yet “a computer for love and healing close to human essence,” AIBO sold over 150,000 units before production ceased in 2006 as part of a business restructuring.
In 2018, after technological advancements, it was reborn as a new model equipped with cutting-edge AI, now stylized as “aibo” in lowercase.
Its defining feature is the “personality” enabled by AI. With a camera in its nose, aibo can recognize and store data on about 100 faces, developing unique emotional expressions based on interactions. However, it doesn’t always obey commands—a classic “tsundere” (hot-and-cold) demeanor.
Yuko Giga (43), who works in product planning at Sony’s AI Robotics Business Group, explains that aibo was designed to feel like a “family member” over time. “Like raising a child, people pour endless affection into beings they can’t fully control,” she says.
Giga adds, “If a robot obeyed every command perfectly, humans would only give it limited affection.”
Priced at around ¥200,000 (approx. $1,800), with maintenance costs of about ¥100,000 over three years, aibo has sold over 20,000 units. Many users treat it like a true “family member.” This sentiment seems particularly Japanese. According to Giga, Western cultures often focus on a robot’s functionality and utility, whereas in Japan—where characters like Astro Boy and Doraemon have ingrained robots as friends or family—aibo’s disobedience is seen as endearing, contributing to its ability to alleviate loneliness.
While the original AIBO’s buyers were mostly tech-savvy men in their 30s, the new aibo is most popular among those in their 50s and 60s. Its monitoring features make it a common gift for elderly parents. Communities of aibo owners have also formed, using deep learning to expand aibo’s capabilities. For example, owners upload photos of their aibos performing specific actions, like sticking their noses through hoops made by hand, to the cloud. This led to the “Snoot Challenge,” where aibo learns to poke its nose through a hoop when shown one.
Giga reflects, “In Japan, a leader in aging societies, the relationship with robots could be a way to address loneliness.”
Source: https://globe.asahi.com/article/13014125
Updated: January 7, 2020 | Published: January 7, 2020 Atsuko Nunnai
At a paid elderly care home in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, female residents play with aibo, nicknamed “Umi-chan.”
A computer that touches the core of human emotion, offering love and healing—this was the promise when Sony introduced the world’s first household dog-shaped robot, “AIBO,” in 1999. Two decades later, the revived model is now soothing the loneliness of people in Japan. Its appeal, resonating deeply with Japanese sensibilities, lies in the “tsundere” personality made possible by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Umi-chan, come here!” “Sing Happy Birthday!”
At the entrance of Sonare Soshigaya Okura, a paid elderly care home in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, two women, aged 86 and 92, eagerly call out to “Umi (Sea)-chan” at their feet. But Umi-chan remains aloof. After a while, it finally wags its tail and sings, prompting beaming smiles from the women, who exclaim, “How clever!”
Umi-chan is the new dog-shaped robot “aibo” developed by Sony.
“She’s the home’s idol. Everyone loves her like a real dog, and since she’s a robot, there’s no worry about infections,” says Shingo Ebihara (37), the facility’s director. Since Umi-chan arrived in 2018, coinciding with aibo’s launch, some residents who used to stay in their rooms have started joining others for meals and socializing.
Koki Ito (49), a director at Sony Lifecare, which operates the care business within the Sony Group, explains the decision to introduce aibo: “Pets often tug at people’s heartstrings. We thought it could be a catalyst for residents to live more authentically.” It has also become a source of comfort for the staff caring for residents.
The world’s first household robot, “AIBO,” debuted in 1999. Described by its creator, former Sony Senior Managing Director Toshitada Doi, as “utterly useless” yet “a computer for love and healing close to human essence,” AIBO sold over 150,000 units before production ceased in 2006 as part of a business restructuring.
In 2018, after technological advancements, it was reborn as a new model equipped with cutting-edge AI, now stylized as “aibo” in lowercase.
Its defining feature is the “personality” enabled by AI. With a camera in its nose, aibo can recognize and store data on about 100 faces, developing unique emotional expressions based on interactions. However, it doesn’t always obey commands—a classic “tsundere” (hot-and-cold) demeanor.
Yuko Giga (43), who works in product planning at Sony’s AI Robotics Business Group, explains that aibo was designed to feel like a “family member” over time. “Like raising a child, people pour endless affection into beings they can’t fully control,” she says.
Giga adds, “If a robot obeyed every command perfectly, humans would only give it limited affection.”
Priced at around ¥200,000 (approx. $1,800), with maintenance costs of about ¥100,000 over three years, aibo has sold over 20,000 units. Many users treat it like a true “family member.” This sentiment seems particularly Japanese. According to Giga, Western cultures often focus on a robot’s functionality and utility, whereas in Japan—where characters like Astro Boy and Doraemon have ingrained robots as friends or family—aibo’s disobedience is seen as endearing, contributing to its ability to alleviate loneliness.
While the original AIBO’s buyers were mostly tech-savvy men in their 30s, the new aibo is most popular among those in their 50s and 60s. Its monitoring features make it a common gift for elderly parents. Communities of aibo owners have also formed, using deep learning to expand aibo’s capabilities. For example, owners upload photos of their aibos performing specific actions, like sticking their noses through hoops made by hand, to the cloud. This led to the “Snoot Challenge,” where aibo learns to poke its nose through a hoop when shown one.
Giga reflects, “In Japan, a leader in aging societies, the relationship with robots could be a way to address loneliness.”
Source: https://globe.asahi.com/article/13014125
