Robotic Wolf Low-poly 3D model

Robotic pets are artificially intelligent machines that are made to resemble actual pets. While the first robotic pets produced in the late 1990s were not too advanced, they have since grown technologically. Many now use machine learning (algorithms that allow machines to adapt to experiences independent of humans), making them much more realistic.[1] Most consumers buy robotic pets with the aim of getting similar companionship that real pets offer, without some of the drawbacks that come with caring for live animals.[1][2] The pets on the market currently have a wide price range, from the low hundreds into the several thousands of dollars.[3] Multiple studies have been done to show that we treat robotic pets in a similar way as actual pets, despite their obvious differences.[4][5][6] However, there is some controversy regarding how ethical using robotic pets is, and whether or not they should be widely adopted in elderly care.