AIBO Wags the Dog

In early June 1999, Sony released 3,000 AIBOs in Japan and 2,000 in the U.S., at a price of ¥250,000 and $2,500, respectively. Orders were taken via the Internet only on a first-come, first-served basis. Surprisingly, 3,000 orders were received in less than 20 minutes in Japan, and the 2,000 U.S. units sold out in four days.

AIBO stands for "Artificial Intelligence Robot," but since it has optical sensors that serve as eyes, the translation can read eye-bo(t). Many in Japan think the name is based on aibou-the Japanese word for "pal." This pal quickly became popular-so popular, in fact, that one would-be capitalist posted a message on a BBS announcing that he had several AIBOs for sale at ¥300,000 a piece, not bad considering that one online auction site was receiving bids of ¥375,000. The message was found later to be fradulent, however, and a 36-year-old man was arrested in September.

Even though it's far more expensive than a regular dog, many people obviously prefer AIBO. So Sony decided to release another 10,000 of the cyber pets in November, which have been distributed to customers in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. The new model ERS-111 comes in metallic black as well as silver gray. The ears and tail have changed a little too, and some of its movements altered. The Japan and U.S. prices haven't changed, and it costs 2,400 euros in Europe. This time, orders were accepted both online and by phone. To no one's surprise, more than 10,000 orders were received. At 6:00 p.m. JST on November 8 (closing time for placing orders), a total of 130,000 orders had been received in Japan only. (Number for other regions were not yet available at press time.)

Even though it's far more expensive than a regular dog, many people obviously prefer AIBO. So Sony decided to release another 10,000 of the cyber pets in November, which have been distributed to customers in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. The new model ERS-111 comes in metallic black as well as silver gray. The ears and tail have changed a little too, and some of its movements altered. The Japan and U.S. prices haven't changed, and it costs 2,400 euros in Europe. This time, orders were accepted both online and by phone. To no one's surprise, more than 10,000 orders were received. At 6:00 p.m. JST on November 8 (closing time for placing orders), a total of 130,000 orders had been received in Japan only. (Number for other regions were not yet available at press time.)

According to one informal poll taken on the AIBO website, many people are attracted to the silicon and metal dog because it is an autonomous robot. Others say they want it because it's so rare. And some say that they can keep an AIBO even in a small apartment where (live) pets are not allowed. Another reason for the huge AIBO love affair may be the proliferation of "dog zoos" in Japan (where you customers pay for the privilege of petting or walking the dogs). Having a robot that acts like a real dog can, it seems, be just as exciting an experience.

AIBO does actually seem like a real dog. If you pet it, he knows he's been petted and learns that what he has just done is a good thing. If you hit him on the head, he'll try to avoid whatever he had just done. By nature (programming, that is), his favorite toy is a pink ball, but if you keep hitting him when he is playing with the pink ball, he will soon learn to dislike it and show his anger towards any pink balls by turning red in the eyes. (Green eyes, on the other hand, mean AIBO is happy.)

The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper has a website dedicated to AIBO, named AIBO-to-asobo (Play with AIBO), where a newspaper writer talks about how he raises his AIBO, and there are links to AIBO-related Mainichi articles. The AIBO Kennel hosts an active AIBO discussion on its BBS and has more than 30 links to other AIBO sites, including individual AIBO owner pages, and AIBO Town is a community site with more than 300 registered AIBO owners.

If you weren't lucky enough to pick up an AIBO for ¥250,000, remember: You can always become a proud puppy mama or papa at your local shelter for less than the cost of an AIBO battery recharge.