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Victoria Song reviewed Mirumi, a $60 Japanese companion robot from Yukai Engineering designed to ease loneliness by imitating a shy infant
Research shows robotic pets can improve mood and quality of life for elderly dementia patients during isolation, but Mirumi proved predictable and boring for everyday use
The bot became a brief obsession for Song's cat Petey, who repeatedly decapitated it – highlighting the difference between reciprocal relationships and one-sided robotic companionship
The review questions whether AI companions like Friend, Razer's AI waifu, or Grok's AI girlfriend can fulfill genuine human connection when they require nothing in return