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Mourning a robot with Ashley Carman and Kaitlyn Tiffany of 'Why'd You Push That Button?'

The Vergecast

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Emotional Attachment to Jibo

This chapter explores the deep emotional connections humans form with robots, centered around Jibo, a social robot cherished by Kenneth and his family since 2017. Despite its limitations compared to modern assistants, the interactions with Jibo evoke nostalgia and sentimental value, leading to humorous yet poignant reflections on technology as companionship. The chapter also highlights the challenges of discontinuation, illustrating the emotional impact on users, especially children, and the ethical responsibilities of tech creators toward their emotionally invested products.

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