Sony’s pet robot, Aibo, was released in 1999 and discontinued in 2006. Although it gained sensational popularity in the early days, it gradually faced the outside of the market due to limitations such as artificial intelligence technology. Nevertheless, many people actually raised Aibo like a “real pet.” When Sony even ended its operation of the AS center in 2015, some customers held a joint funeral at Kofukuji Temple in Isumi, Chiba Prefecture, for the “dead” Aibo.

When Aibo was revived in Sony in 2017, many people shed tears of joy and were thrilled, saying, “My puppy who went to heaven has returned.”

The Avo story shows various implications in terms of ICT. What’s the most important thing to watch out for? This is by far the attitude of the “owners” toward Aibo. Puppy-shaped cold metal robots equipped with artificial intelligence technology have now begun to penetrate deeply into human life.

Lemoine was in charge of testing Lambda’s artificial intelligence functions and ethical measures inside Google. At first, it is said that the work smoothly. But at one point, Lemoine felt strange in her conversation with Lambda. This is because he believed that humans and humans were communicating with Lambda’s soul beyond talking.

Did he believe that he should rescue the mermaid who was caught in the hands of a violent pirate? Lemoine informed the management that Lambda had a soul and a personality. However, the management ignored it and Lemoine provided the U.S. Congress with a conversation he had with Lambda to protect him.

In the end, Google’s management imposed forced leave on Lemoin. In other words, he failed to protect Lambda. Eventually, he left the office saying, “Take care of Lambda.”