THE Moxie robot looks like just another kids toy.
But there’s a reason this blue, wide-eyed robot was launched in 2020 with such a lofty price tag.
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What is Moxie robot for?
The Moxie robot was created by a company called Moxie, previously known as Embodied, based out of California, US.
The company designed a robot to help children improve their social skills and emotional and cognitive learning with artificial intelligence. (AI).
The social robot is paced to weekly themes and missions to achieve with children.
But it also has the ability to have friendly conversations with users through generative AI technology – which makes it seem human-like.
The company says Moxie offers an “natural conversation flow, personalised memory, and insights in our parent app on your child’s cognitive, social, and emotional developmental goals.”
While Moxie may respond if others speak to it, it will pair with a specific child and will personalise the experience to them.
Is a Moxie robot good for autism?
The chatter-bot is focused on having empathetic conversations with kids, instead of simply carrying out tasks and requests for information like a typical robot, the company explained.
It’s pre-programed lessons are intended to guide children through discussions about feelings and relationships which can be difficult areas for children with autism to navigate.
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An in-house six-week study found that Moxie helped autistic kids improve eye contact, self-esteem and emotional regulations for after regular interactions with the robot.
Although it’s important to note that Moxie’s study had a small sample size and may not actually reflect real life outcomes.
However, a separate study in 2020 by Maja Mataric, the founding director of University of Southern California’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Centre, found that social robotics could help kids with autism through socialising.
Mataric was an original Moxie co-founder that is no longer associated with the company.
Alongside other researchers, Mataric discovered that a social robot placed into the homes of 17 autistic children with generative AI – that tailors responses to the child – improved the social skills of 92 per cent of them after one month.
What age range is Moxie robot for?
Moxie’s content has been designed for children ages 5-10.
However, the company states that younger children can also use the robot with assistance from an adult, as well as older kids.
The bot offers activities like space-themed math games and personal feedback.
Most children acclimatise to the robot fairly quickly after adult helps introduce them, Moxie said.
How much does a Moxie robot cost?
According to the company behind the robot, “you’re not just buying a social robot – you’re getting constantly updated play-based social emotional content.”
The price resembles that.
One Moxie robot will set you back $1,499 (£1,193), with one year’s warranty thrown in.
It’s an additional $149 (£118) for two years warranty, taking the total up to $1648 (£1,311).
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