Photo of a robot dog next to a real dog

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Do Robots Make the Best Pets?

Courtesy of family

Sophie Kuperwasser-Gupta with her robot pet Chip

Sophie Kuperwasser-Gupta got her dog Chip six years ago. Now 10, Sophie still loves playing with him at home in Massachusetts. She tells him to do tricks, like a handstand.

Doing that trick is just one way Chip is different from other dogs. He also has wheels instead of paws. And he never drools. That’s because Chip is a robot! Sophie controls him with voice commands and an app.

“He always finds ways to amuse me,” she says.

Many newer robot pets have artificial intelligence (AI). That means the machines can think, learn, and act like a human or a pet. 

One popular AI pet is a dog named Aibo. The robot learns new behaviors as its owners interact with it. 

Some people say robots like this bring the same joy as real animals. But many people think robots can never replace living things.

Should people replace real animals with robot pets? 

About 3 out of 10 Americans are allergic to cats or dogs. AI pets might be a great idea for those people. The robots don’t have fur that causes people to sneeze.

Harvey Castro is an expert on AI. He says AI pets are easy to care for. There’s no need to feed them or clean up their messes. Also, going on vacations isn’t a problem. 

“People can take their AI pets or leave them home and not worry about getting a sitter,” says Castro.

Most robot pets aren’t cheap. Aibo, for example, costs $2,900. There’s also a charge each year to keep its software up-to-date. But over time, an AI pet can cost much less than a real one. Robots don’t need a veterinarian or food.

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Robots can learn tricks. But can they bond with humans like real pets? Castro says it would be very difficult to create a pet that can build that type of connection with people. 

“It might cost a million dollars to create a pet like that,” Castro explains.

Pet owners point out that real dogs and cats help kids learn skills they wouldn’t get from owning a robot. A 2019 study found that pets help kids build confidence. Pet owners admit that caring for a real animal can be a lot of work. But they say it can teach kids how to be responsible. 

Many kids spend a lot of time using phones and computers. Castro worries that a robot pet could be another device that keeps kids from interacting with other people.

1. According to the article’s introduction, how is Chip different from real dogs?

2. Why does the article state that over time, an AI pet can cost less than a real pet?

3. Why do some people argue that having a real pet is good for kids?

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Photo of two kids playing with a puppy
iStockPhoto/Getty Images
interact

verb

to talk to or do things with someone or something

 

Sammy and Jessica interact with their dog by playing with him every day.
Photo of a kid sitting across from a robot kid
iStockPhoto/Getty Images
artificial intelligence

noun

the power of a machine to learn from and copy human or animal behavior

 

Emma’s robot has artificial intelligence, so it is able to speak with her.
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