Sony Revives Robot Dog Aibo As Weapon In Upcoming AI Wars

For those who have not been paying attention, a war centered around artificial intelligence has been brewing over the past few years. Both private companies and world governments are stockpiling software arsenal in order to get to the top. Sony is no different and it is apparently bringing back its beloved robot puppy called Aibo to be part of its pile of ordnance.

In 1999, the world was introduced to Aibo, a robot canine that promised endless possibilities. Sadly, it was discontinued in 2006 and the future of fully intelligent mechanical dogs was dashed. According to a recent report by Nikkei, however, the creator of the PlayStation home gaming console is set to start offering Aibo again.

“Sony is reuniting engineers formerly involved in the Aibo program that still remain with the company for the new project, including AI expert Masahiro Fujita. By combining its strength in mechanical engineering and AI, which has come a long way since Aibo, the company hopes to elevate its new robot business beyond that of merely controlling household electronics,” the report reads.

Before fans of the once beloved robot dog start celebrating, however, it’s worth pointing out that no actual plans for production have been revealed. This could lead to a robot/AI renaissance or it could flop.

Considering how Sony doesn’t have the kind of substantial data source that Google or Amazon has, it’s safe to say that the Japanese company is far behind in developing workable AI. In an effort to catch, it would seem that Sony might be opening up Aibo’s software so that third-party entities can develop their own apps and program for the robot dog.

If the company does end up creating a robot dog, it will likely be for home use, Engadget notes. Sony was considering creating robotic canines for industrial use but appears to have decided that the challenges were too difficult to tackle right now.