AI Companion Robot Moxie to Shut Down After Creator Faces Financial Collapse

Embodied's decision to cease operations leaves Moxie users, including children with autism, grappling with the loss of the AI-powered device.

Embodied, the company behind the $799 AI robot Moxie, announced it will shut down operations due to financial challenges, rendering the robot nonfunctional within days.
Moxie was designed to help children, including those on the autism spectrum, develop social, emotional, and communication skills through interactive conversations and activities.
The robot's reliance on cloud-based AI means its core functionality will cease once Embodied's servers go offline, leaving many users feeling as though they are losing a close companion.
Parents and children have shared emotional goodbyes on social media, with some advocating for solutions such as open-sourcing the technology or finding new financial backers to save Moxie.
The shutdown highlights broader concerns about the increasing dependence of modern hardware on software support, raising questions about consumer rights and product longevity in subscription-based models.