A six-year-old girl’s tearful farewell to her broken AI robot moved millions in China when the tiny machine gently taught her one last word – “memory,” moments before shutting down.
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The girl, nicknamed Thirteen, lives in Hunan province, central China, with her father while her parents are separated.
Her father, who enjoys buying her educational toys, gifted her a mini AI robot that she affectionately named “Sister Xiao Zhi.”
The palm-sized, ball-shaped robot, sold for around 169 yuan (US$24), could chat, play music, and set alarms.
According to social media posts from her father, Thirteen spent countless happy hours conversing with Sister Xiao Zhi, who taught her English and basic astronomy.
Although it is unclear how long Thirteen had owned the robot, she had already come to regard it as a close friend.