Sony Aibo: The robot revolution dressed like a dog and welcomed into homes
Sony’s vision for robots
In the 1990s, Sony believed a robot-filled future was close. The company imagined humanoid robots working alongside people, becoming friends and even serving as pets. Aibo was designed with that last role in mind. Sony wanted the robot dog to become part of a family, rather than simply a machine in the home.
Aibo’s effect on owners
A Version History episode looks back at how Aibo began and considers its success and longevity. Host David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Victoria Song and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy.
The discussion explores why owners felt such a strong connection to Aibo, as well as what Sony got right and wrong about robots. The participants also consider whether robotic pets might ever become popular worldwide.
A new season of Version History
The Aibo episode opens the sixth season of Version History. This season focuses on pets, including gadgets that are pets, gadgets made for pets, and a gadget called pet.
The show says new episodes will appear in listeners’ feeds over the next six weeks. Verge subscribers can also access Version History and the publication’s other podcasts without ads through their account settings.
Key points
- Sony created Aibo to be a family pet as it anticipated a future filled with robots.
- The Version History episode examines Aibo’s origins, longevity and impact on owners.
- David Pierce, Victoria Song and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy discuss what Sony got right and wrong.
- The sixth season of Version History focuses on pets and runs for six weeks.