Casio's AI pet Moflin might be cute – but it's no replacement for the real thing
WHEN I first read about the ‘Moflin’ – a new AI pet from tech giant Casio, which launched last month – I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
Here we have a fluffy little robot which doesn’t need to be walked, fed, cleaned up after or taken to the vet. In essence it’s ‘the ideal pet’, but, to me, sounds more like a glorified toy.
That’s not to say I can’t see the appeal. On paper, at least, it makes sense. For people who can’t own a real pet, because of allergies, housing rules or health issues, a robot companion that won’t chew the furniture or shed on the sofa might sound perfect. According to Casio, the Moflin can reduce loneliness and bring emotional comfort, particularly for those unable to care for live animals.
However, as someone who actually owns a dog (and occasionally questions that decision while trudging through the rain), I can’t help feeling this is an unnecessary step in our relentless quest to replace anything slightly inconvenient with a gadget.
My dog can be infuriating. He sulks, steals slippers, and barks at shadows. But he’s also funny, affectionate and entirely himself. There’s no algorithm dictating how he feels about me on any given day, or an app quietly marking my “care score”, as there is with a Moflin.
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