Yes, you read the headline right–baby robots are being used to treat depressed seniors with Alzheimer’s in Japan. As strange as it might sound, some studies have shown that caring for dolls is therapeutic to depressed Alzheimer’s patients.
The babyloid, which is still a prototype, looks a bit like the strange lovechild of a robot and a baby beluga whale. The five-pound, 17-inch long bot can reportedly move its arms, head, mouth and eyelids, all while emitting robot baby sounds (we’re curious to hear what those sound like). While this baby bot does sound kind of nifty, buying it will definitely take its toll on your wallet–the babyloid will retail in Japan soon for a hefty price tag of about $600.
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