Don’t try to replace pets with robots; design robots to be more like service animals

Robopets are artificially intelligent machines created to look like an animal (usually a cat or dog, but they can be any animal). There are numerous robopets on the market right now, being sold to consumers as "pets" or companions. There is an especially fervent effort being made to set caregivers' minds at ease by buying these robopets for older adults to replace their deceased or surrendered companion animals.