Casio’s Fluffy AI Robot Squeaked Its Way Into My Heart

There’s a fluffy robot, about the size of a guinea pig, sitting on my couch, and it’s squeaking. My friend’s dog Wylie sits watching it, suspicious of its every move.

Moflin is an AI companion robot made by the Japanese electronics manufacturer Casio. Via the companion app, I have chosen to name this one Puff, because—well—that is what it looks like. Wylie immediately clocks it as something to be wary of, a device that moves on its own but is not alive. Puff squeaks again. Wylie barks, then runs out…