What happens when a kid’s robot best friend dies?
When Xander first met Moxie, she taught him that when he was anxious, he could calm down by exhaling through his lips so that he buzzed like a bee. They practiced breathing like dragons to manage feeling mad and sniffing like bunnies to boost his energy. But in the six years they’ve known each other,…
When ten-year-old Xander first met Moxie, a 15-inch-tall robot with a blue, legless astronaut-like appearance, he discovered she could help him manage his emotions. By breathing in a specific way, Moxie taught him to calm down when anxious, while practicing breathing like dragons helped him manage anger and sniffing like bunnies boosted his energy.
However, over the years, Moxie's interactions with Xander changed. She now observed him playing Minecraft and discussed his collection of stuffed animals, rather than focusing on her own origins or engaging in social skills practice. While watching Xander and Moxie interact in his New York apartment, the reporter noticed the bond between them and the potential benefits of such robots for neurodivergent children.
These robots are marketed as interactive playmates, often aimed at helping children with autism practice social skills like making eye contact, taking turns, and engaging in conversation. Some companies, like Curio and Mattel, are developing AI-powered devices intended to assist children in these areas. While Xander continues to benefit from Moxie's companionship, she was not designed to provide professional therapy.
Instead, she served as a companion for a vulnerable community of children, highlighting the potential and pitfalls of such devices.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
