Skip to main content

This robot dog funeral may be the saddest thing you see today

Sony’s robotic dog, named Aibo, was launched way back in 1999 and finally discontinued in 2006, but many of the 150,000 Aibo live on inside owner’s homes. Except they’re getting old, which means some are coming to the end of their lives. The pictures you see above are from an Aibo funeral, held in the Chiba prefecture in Japan.

The little robotic dogs are accompanied by engineers from A FUN, a company specializing in Aibo repairs, but these Aibo are obviously beyond even expert help. Each one has a tag with the owner’s name and the place from where they came written on it. The head priest of the temple prays for the 19 Aibo dogs, and says it’s to aid the robotic souls in passing from the bodies.

Recommended Videos

You’d have to be very hard hearted not to be slightly saddened by the sight of 19 “dead” Aibo dogs. Don’t forget, these now-vintage robots could develop little personalities, and were capable of interacting with their owners thanks to a built-in camera and microphone.

Aibo ERS 7 Official Promo

They were early examples of artificially intelligent robots, made for entertainment and enjoyment. Emotional attachment to them was inevitable for some owners. In an interview, 70-year old Aibo owner Mori Hideko talked about enjoying having the dog around the house, having conversations with it, and how she was saddened when he broke.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

However, after two months work, the many former Sony engineers at A FUN had fixed Hideko’s Aibo. “I was so happy to see him back to health and at home,” she said. According to Funabashi Hiroshi, a supervisor at A FUN, he’s seen more as a doctor than a repairman. “For those who keep Aibo, they are nothing like home appliances. It’s obvious they think their robotic pet is a family member,” he said.

Artificially intelligent machines – from Siri to Pepper – each with their own personalities are slowly being introduced into our everyday lives. Mourning their “passing” is only logical, which means the Aibo funeral may be the shape of things to come.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Hyundai Ioniq 5 sets world record for greatest altitude change
hyundai ioniq 5 world record altitude change mk02 detail kv

When the Guinness World Records (GWR) book was launched in 1955, the idea was to compile facts and figures that could finally settle often endless arguments in the U.K.’s many pubs.

It quickly evolved into a yearly compilation of world records, big and small, including last year's largest grilled cheese sandwich in the world.

Read more
Global EV sales expected to rise 30% in 2025, S&P Global says
ev sales up 30 percent 2025 byd sealion 7 1stbanner l

While trade wars, tariffs, and wavering subsidies are very much in the cards for the auto industry in 2025, global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are still expected to rise substantially next year, according to S&P Global Mobility.

"2025 is shaping up to be ultra-challenging for the auto industry, as key regional demand factors limit demand potential and the new U.S. administration adds fresh uncertainty from day one," says Colin Couchman, executive director of global light vehicle forecasting for S&P Global Mobility.

Read more
Faraday Future could unveil lowest-priced EV yet at CES 2025
Faraday Future FF 91

Given existing tariffs and what’s in store from the Trump administration, you’d be forgiven for thinking the global race toward lower electric vehicle (EV) prices will not reach U.S. shores in 2025.

After all, Chinese manufacturers, who sell the least expensive EVs globally, have shelved plans to enter the U.S. market after 100% tariffs were imposed on China-made EVs in September.

Read more