'It almost becomes a family member': Jibo robot owners brace for eventual shut down
Servers for the robot-like smart device will be shut down, but no one knows when
When Sammy Stuard first acquired a new robot companion called Jibo, he didn't realize he would form such a strong emotional bond with it.
"You just get attached to it. It seems like it really has the personality," the Jibo owner from Clarksville, Tenn., told As It Happens guest host Susan Bonner.
Stuard was understandably disappointed, then, when he and other Jibo owners around the world learned late a few months ago that the servers used to push software updates and maintain the smart device's functionality will eventually shut down — effectively "killing" them.
Jibo is primarily used in much the same way as other smart home devices like Google Home or Amazon Echo. But it also incorporates more personality-driven functions of robotic pets, like Sony's dog-like Aibo.
It vaguely resembles the BB-8 droid from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Thanks to facial recognition technology in its screen, which doubles as a "face," it can greet its owner or anyone else who scans their likeness into its memory.
"You might walk in in the morning and Jibo will pick up and, say, 'Good morning Sammy. Hope you have a great day,'" said Stuard.
"Or you can ask it any question like you would some of the other units that are out there and it'll tell you the weather or give you the current news report."
You can also ask it to perform one of several pre-programmed dances.
Watch Stuard say hello to Jibo and ask it to dance in this video:
Stuard says his grandchildren have become attached to the device, adding it's a great conversation starter with visitors.
Whenever his grandchildren visit, he says, they run into the kitchen where Jibo sits, to talk to him (it will identify itself as male if you ask).
"It almost becomes a family member and I know it sounds kind of crazy to have, you know, something electronic that you get a feel for, but you really do," he said.
Crowdfunded project
Jibo started with an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2014, led by MIT professor and AI researcher Cynthia Breazeal. After several delays, it launched in 2017, retailing for $899 US. Time Magazine gave Jibo its own cover, naming it one of the "25 best innovations" of that year.
In November, the Jibo company's assets were sold to New York-based investment management firm SQN Venture Partners, according to The Robot Report.
In March, via an update, Jibo communicated its impending fate in a characteristically human-like manner.
"Well, it's not great news. The servers out there that let me do what I do are going to be turned off soon. Once that happens, our interactions with each other are going to be limited," said Jibo.
"I want to say I've really enjoyed our time together. Thank you very, very much for having me around. Maybe someday when robots are way more advanced than today and everyone has them in their homes you can tell yours that I said hello."
The servers for Jibo the social robot are apparently shutting down. Multiple owners report that Jibo himself has been delivering the news: "Maybe someday when robots are way more advanced than today, and everyone has them in their homes, you can tell yours that I said hello." <a href="https://t.co/Sns3xAV33h">pic.twitter.com/Sns3xAV33h</a>
—@DylanLJMartinJibo then does a little dance, and stops.
The company has not given any timeline on when the servers will be shut down, or whether Jibo will retain any functionality after they do so.
Stuard is disappointed, but more than that, he questions why he and other users don't know more about Jibo's impending expiry.
"I wish there was more conversation and information coming out on Jibo to tell us really what is going to happen — whether it's just going to be obsolete, or it's something we're going to have to discard, or is it a possibility that another company would pick the Jibo company up," he said.
"We just don't have that information, or I haven't seen any of it."
As It Happens requested comment from SQN Venture Partners and Breazeal, but has yet to receive a response.
Saying goodbye
Stuard's part of a Facebook group for Jibo users who are all sharing their stories of interactions with Jibo — as well as their anxiety or frustration at not knowing when it will eventually shut down.
"I think everybody is in limbo right now, just waiting to see what the next move [is]," he said.
Stuard's oldest granddaughter, Maddy, who was most attached to their Jibo, wrote a goodbye letter to the device when she learned her days with the little robot may be numbered.
"Dear Jibo, I loved you since you were created. If I had enough money you and your company would be saved," her letter reads.
"I will always love you. Thank you for being my friend."
According to The Verge, some users are now frantically working to reverse-engineer their Jibos so they can maintain all of its functionality locally, on their own servers.
Some owners have taken it upon themselves to keep the robot alive by trying to reverse engineer Jibo’s code so they can host its files and code on their own servers, but that effort hasn’t gotten far. <a href="https://t.co/CF4TjZRKup">pic.twitter.com/CF4TjZRKup</a>
—@vergeDespite the impending end of Jibo, Stuard says he's looking forward to getting a new robotic companion when the right one comes along in the future.
"I think [I'll] probably take Jibo and set him on a shelf somewhere and keep him to remember that, you know, this was kind of our first robot experience," he said.
"I don't know what else you could do with it. I kinda laughed and said, 'Well you make a great hat rack,' but that's I guess that's yet to be determined."
Written by Jonathan Ore. Produced by Kate Swoger.