Moxie is a companion robot for kids and the friend every adult once dreamed of
People don't need much time to become emotionally attached to their robot companions. But this was already clear back when kids were obsessed with Tamagotchi. We have been living with robots for a long time, but most of them lack real intelligence. Moxie (Moxie) is completely different.
Developed by Embodied, which was co-founded by former iRobot CTO Paolo Pirjanian, Moxie is a companion robot created specifically for children, with whom they can play every day. During a session lasting 15 to 25 minutes, a child can talk with Moxie, play games or read together with it.
Unlike most bots, it is not just a household appliance. It can recognize a child's face and their particular learning needs. In many ways, Moxie brings kids one step closer to having their own droid from "Star Wars".
Its round head, flipper-like arms and overall body resemble EVE, the futuristic robot from WALL-E. Only Moxie can't yet float freely in the air. The robot's "face" is a convex screen that comes to life with expressive animation.
Moxie really looks like a real Pixar character. It can rotate around its base to follow its playmates with its built-in camera. Its torso bends smoothly up and down, and its arms sometimes mimic the gestures of an excited child. Almost every element of the robot is designed to convey its personality, from its friendly voice to its huge eyes.
For its target audience (children aged 5 to 10), Moxie seems almost alive. When first switched on, the robot wakes up abruptly and runs a check of its autonomous systems. Usually, users gradually discover new features and ways of communicating as they interact with the robot over time.
In fact, the Moxie robot is a real chatterbox. It will ask you about your day, following every word you say with its eyes. If you say you're going to the park, Moxie will say that it also loves going there. If you mention an apple as your favorite fruit, the robot will immediately say that it is one of its favorite foods.
If you mention something the robot is not familiar with, it will simply say that it has never heard of it before. Surprisingly, conversations with Moxie flow completely naturally and are certainly more organic than shouting commands at an Amazon Echo.
Every day with Moxie can be different. Sometimes it asks whether you'd like to listen to music. If you answer "yes", the robot will download a cute song and start spinning. Sometimes it will share some tips and tricks, for example, how it is best put to sleep if you want to take a break.
Moxie often asks whether you'd like to read to it aloud. Even if you read it a book that is far from childish, it will sometimes still ask questions about your favorite character and what you would do to change the ending. The robot's own preferences are not yet settled. One day it may say it loves basketball, and the next day it will declare that it is not a fan at all.
The company is working to make Moxie's personality more stable. Then it will truly feel like a friend that the user can get to know over time. The robot is especially helpful for children who have no brothers or sisters, and during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Many children suffered from social isolation during the pandemic, which led to stress and anxiety. Families report seeing their child calmer and more thoughtful. Sometimes they become much more expressive and talk about their feelings. This helps, since parents can step in if necessary”
Many adults today could have benefited from a friend like Moxie to feel less anxious as children. You might have been more confident talking with other kids if you had a robot friend to help. In the future, the device may be useful for children with certain special needs, but for now the company is focused on making it a universal friend for everyone.
Over the last five years, the world has seen a growing number of studies showing that screen time, social media and, at times, the competitive nature of the school system cause a lot of worry and stress for every child. It would be useful for them to improve their social and emotional skills so they can cope with such things much better.
Spending time with Moxie will appeal to every child, especially the most curious ones. Pirjanian says that over time the company will create even more content and eventually launch a separate app store. Embodied could potentially collaborate with book publishers in the future to make Moxie an expert on the next big trend in the spirit of Harry Potter.
The question of the robot's cost remains. Moxie costs $1500, plus a monthly maintenance subscription of $40 to $60 after the first year of use. For many parents, this is a substantial sum. That is why the company has launched a robot rental for $149 per month.
