On Version History: How a robot dog became a family member, but not exactly a huge hit.
On Version History: How a robot dog became a family member, but not exactly a huge hit.
by David PierceNov 15, 2026, 1:57 PM UTCDavid Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.In the 1990s, Sony was absolutely convinced that we were on the precipice of a robot takeover. Pretty soon, the company decided, we’d all be living among countless humanoid robots. Some would be our coworkers; others would be our friends; and at least one would be our pet. And “pet” was exactly what Sony was going for when it created the Aibo. It was supposed to be part of the family.
