Social Robot Jibo Dances Final Goodbye as Servers Go Offline
Jibo's social robot delivers a final farewell dance to users before its servers shut down permanently. The move severely limits the device's functionality and marks the end of the line for the once-hyped crowdfunded gadget.
The social robot Jibo delivers a final, bittersweet dance to its owners as it announces that its servers are shutting down permanently. This news comes nearly a year after the robotics startup behind the device sells off its intellectual property to investment management firm SQN Venture Partners. Attempts by journalists to contact the company fail, as support emails bounce back and the official support page goes offline.
Without its servers, Jibo loses almost all of its core functionality and no longer understands voice commands beyond its wake word. The device still activates when users say "Hey Jibo," but it now relies entirely on basic touch screen buttons to operate. Additionally, the robot warns owners that its companion mobile app closes down soon and urges them to download any saved photos before they disappear forever.
Jibo initially generates massive excitement by raising $3.6 million on Indiegogo in 2014, but the company takes nearly three years to actually ship the product to backers. By the time Jibo reaches consumers, dominant smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home already capture the market. The robot ultimately fails to attract enough third-party developer support to compete, leading directly to its current demise.