SHORT ANSWER
AI pets did not begin with chatbots. Their history joins mechanical spectacle, cybernetics, virtual care games, consumer robotics, therapeutic design, and—only recently—large multimodal models. Each era changed what people expected an artificial creature to notice, remember, and do.
No single “first AI pet”
The answer depends on the definition. Westinghouse’s Sparko was an early robot dog but a scripted exhibition machine. Grey Walter’s late-1940s tortoises were autonomous artificial animals built for research, not consumer companionship. It is more accurate to describe milestones than to force one invention into a modern category.
Care became the interaction
Desktop Petz and Bandai’s 1996 Tamagotchi made feeding, cleaning, growth, and neglect into an ongoing relationship loop. The creature did not need sophisticated intelligence to feel persistent: it changed because time passed and because the player returned.
Read dates carefully
Announcement, order, shipment, and international-release dates often differ. Classic Furby simulated learning rather than using modern AI, and therapeutic robots should not be described as cures. Good history preserves those distinctions.
How to read this topic
AIPets.com separates current products, published evidence, engineering practice, and forward-looking claims. Capabilities vary by product and update. Health, education, and emotional-wellbeing claims need evidence for the specific population and setting—not just a compelling demo.
Sources and further reading
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