While dogs are often called man's best friend, people with Alzheimer's or dementia may find it hard to care for a real pet. That's where 'Jeanie,' a lifelike robotic puppy from Tombot, comes in. Unveiled at CES 2025, it provides companionship and love without the need for care, making it easier for those who can't look after a real dog.
'Jeanie" is a life-like robotic yellow Labrador puppy that responds to touch and voice commands and even wags its tail.
The idea for the robot dog came from Tom Stevens, a businessman from California. He thought of it after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011 and he had to take away her dog. He hopes this technology will change the way elderly people and those with dementia are cared for in the future, reports abs-cbn.com.
"Inspired by my mother, who after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia, I had to take away her dog for safety reasons. And she was very unhappy with me," said Stevens, the CEO and co-founder of Tombot.
"I looked around for substitutes for live animal companions. She didn't like anything that I brought home. And it was at that time I realized there was a very large gap in the market."
Stevens explained that there are over 300 million seniors globally who suffer from dementia or mild cognitive impairment and are unable to care for live animals. This prompted Tombot to create Jeanie—a robotic companion designed to alleviate behavioral and psychological symptoms such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
Tombot's technology also offers continuous new behaviors, preventing users from experiencing repetitive interactions with the robotic puppy.
Tombot plans to start fulfilling orders for Jeanie later in 2025. The product will be available for direct purchase by consumers at a one-time price of $1,500 or via rental models for institutions such as assisted living facilities.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
