Robin the Robot, a cartoon-faced device on wheels, is making rounds in pediatric wards and care facilities across several states, offering jokes, games, and a listening ear to young patients. The robot, which resembles an elongated traffic cone with a digital screen for a head, has been deployed in 30 healthcare settings in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Indiana since its U.S. launch five years ago.
Developed by Expper Technologies, Robin is designed to behave like a seven-year-old girl, with a personality aimed at engaging children and older adults. The device rolls through hallways, interacts with patients, and even remembers them by name, a feature that has delighted families. One mother, Meagan Brazil-Sheehan, recalled how her six-year-old son's face lit up when Robin greeted him by name on a second visit, calling the moment "so special."
Speech language pathologist Samantha da Silva, who works at HealthBridge Children's Hospital in Orange County, California, told the Associated Press that Robin "brings joy to everyone." She noted that patients and staff alike enjoy chatting with the robot as it moves through the facility.
Robin's primary function is companionship, not medical diagnosis. It plays tic-tac-toe, makes silly faces, and even dances with patients when their favorite songs play. The robot's interactions are powered by what Expper calls CompassionateAI™, which the company says is tailored to the emotional needs of children and older adults. However, the robot is only about 30% autonomous; the rest is managed by a team of remote teleoperators, a common approach for AI systems that require nuanced human oversight.
How Robin Works and What It Means for Care
According to CEO Karén Khachikyan, Robin mirrors the emotions of the person it speaks with, laughing when they are happy and showing empathy when they are sad. It also collects data from interactions, which Khachikyan says is compliant with HIPAA. The robot is intended to alleviate the workload of nurses and medical staff who may not have time to connect with every patient.
Yet the very features that make Robin endearing also raise concerns. Critics point to the risks of AI systems that are overly agreeable, or sycophantic, never challenging a person's feelings. Therapists have warned that such interactions can worsen mental health, especially for vulnerable individuals. The ability of AI to "remember" personal details has also been criticized for creating an overly humanized impression of technology.
Khachikyan envisions a future where Robin takes on more responsibilities and becomes "even more essential part of care delivery." But as the robot becomes more common, questions remain about the long-term impact of replacing human interaction with teleoperated machines.
