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CASIO
RELEASES AI
PET
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1 Warm up
Look at the pictures below. Why do people have these kinds of pets? Which type of pet do you think
requires the least amount of work? Can a relationship with a pet replace human relationships? Would
you like to have a robotic pet, or would you prefer a real one? Discuss the questions in pairs.

picture A picture B

picture C picture D

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2 Pre-listening task: general vocabulary

Part A: Match words with the correct definitions.

Group 1:

1. creature (n) a. a living thing, real or imaginary, that can move around, such as
an animal
2. bond (n) b. made to appear to exist by the use of computer software, for
example on the internet
3. anxiety (n) c. needing a lot of your time, attention or effort

4. virtual (adj.) d. used to say that something may develop into something

5. demanding (adj.) e. to or in a foreign country, especially those separated from your

country by the sea or ocean
6. overseas (adv.) f. fix the price of something at a particular level

7. price (v) g. an interest, experience, or feeling that makes two people feel
connected
8. potentially (adv.) h. the state of feeling nervous or worried that something bad is
going to happen

Group 2:

1. display (v) a. a place where people live and are cared for when they cannot
live at home or look after themselves
2. stock (v) b. covered with fur

3. furry (adj.) c. a pet

4. companion animal (n) d. look like or be similar to another person or thing

5. resemble (v) e. a feeling of being unhappy because you have no friends or

people to talk to
6. care home (n) f. helping to cure a disease or improve your health

7. loneliness (n) g. (of a shop) keep a supply of a particular type of goods to sell

8. therapeutic (adj.) h. (of a computer, etc.) show information

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Part B: Discuss these questions in pairs.

1. Why do you think people started having companion animals instead of using animals for work?

2. Can a pet help with loneliness? Why/why not?

3. In which ways could owning a pet be therapeutic?

4. Do you think it would be a good idea to give robotic pets to older people in care homes? Why/why
not?

5. If a robotic pet resembles a real animal, are users more likely to treat it like a real pet?

6. Are dogs or cats more demanding? What is the least demanding type of real pet you can own?

7. Do you think it would be possible to form a bond with a robotic pet? Why/why not?

3 Listening for specific information

Part A: Listen to the report. Tick the items you hear mentioned. Which three items were not mentioned
in the audio?

solution rabbit

machine plans

computer device

screen app

robot society

Part B: Look at the underlined phrase in the sentence below. What do you think the phrase means?
Have you followed in the footsteps of your parents? Discuss in pairs.

It’s unlikely that another animal on Earth will ever follow in our footsteps.

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4 Listening comprehension

For each question, select the answer that most accurately reflects the information given in the audio.
Listen to the report again to check your answers.

Group 1:

1. Where is Casio based?

a. South Korea

b. Japan

c. United States of America

2. What did Casio make its name producing?

a. computers and video games

b. products for pets

c. calculators and digital watches

3. How much does the Moflin cost?

a. 54,900 yen b. 59,400 yen c. 94,500 yen

4. What is Aibo?

a. a digital watch b. a video game c. a robotic dog

5. When was Aibo released?

a. 1999 b. 2009 c. 2023

Group 2:

1. Who produced the Tamagotchi?

a. Sony b. Bandai Namco c. Casio

2. Which animals does the Moflin resemble?

a. a rabbit or a chinchilla

b. a hamster or a guinea pig

c. a cat or a duck

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3. How can Moflins communicate with their owners?

a. by making noises or through an app

b. with a camera and a small LCD screen

c. through a series of flashing lights

4. How many pet cats live in Japan?

a. 7.1 million b. 9.7 million c. 8.9 million

5. What type of animal is Paro?

a. a robotic cat b. a robotic seal c. a robotic hamster

5 Pre-reading task: general vocabulary

Part A: You are going to read an article in which four individuals share their opinions on robotic and
AI pets. Scan the text quickly and find words that match the synonyms and definitions below in each
paragraph.

Group 1:

1. (v, para. 1): damage the surface of something, especially by accident, by

making thin shallow marks on it
2. (v, para. 1): bother

3. (adj., para. 1): remaining constant in your support of somebody/something

4. (v, para. 2): (of dogs) making a short, loud sound

5. (v, para. 2): move your hand gently and slowly over an animal’s fur or hair

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Group 2:

1. (adj., para. 3): furry

2. (n, para. 4): a scientist who studies and is trained in psychology

3. (adj., para. 4): not real

4. (n, para. 4): a medical condition in which a person feels very sad, anxious
and without hope and often has physical symptoms such as being unable to
sleep, etc.
5. (adj., para 4): needing or wanting something very much

Part B: Look at the underlined phrase in the sentence below. What do you think the phrase means?
Can you think of a time when you tried to do something even though you thought you would probably
fail? Discuss in pairs.

I’m going to take the exam anyway, even though I

haven’t studied much, as I think it’s worth a shot.

Are robot pets here to stay?

Four individuals share their opinions

1. Chris, 42

My marriage broke down last year, and I found myself spending a lot of time alone. My wife took the dog, which
was fair enough, as she used to walk him every day, but I still felt like I was missing something. Friends suggested
getting a new pet, but I have quite a busy working life, so I thought it wouldn’t be fair on the animal. That’s when
I found Jossy, from RealityEX. Jossy is about the size of a small cat and covered in fur. She moves around the
apartment with her robotic legs. She makes cat-like noises when she wants attention, but I don’t need to feed
her or anything like that. Jossy doesn’t scratch the furniture or disturb the neighbours. She’s loyal to me, which is
what I need at the moment.

2. Fiona, 21

We’ve always been a dog family, although we did have a cat when I was very young. We’ve had our current dog,
Jack, for twelve years now. He’s a bit slower than he used to be, but just as loving. When he was a puppy, he
went through a phase of barking a lot, but he’s generally very well-behaved. Jack likes to watch football on TV.
He loves to be stroked behind the ears. I can’t imagine replacing him with a machine. When he’s no longer with
us, we’ll all miss him a lot, but the memories we’ll have of his silly old face will last us for our whole lives.

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3. Rachael, 38

My father has Alzheimer’s disease. He tends to get a little confused when my brother and I visit, and often talks
about our old dog, Bryan, who died over two decades ago. My brother, Dan, saw an advert by chance about
robotic pets for people with dementia. When we discussed it with dad’s medical team, they thought it was worth
a shot. We bought him an AI pet called Rex-9, which looks a bit like a dog. It’s soft and fluffy but can move around
a little bit and make noises. My father seems a lot calmer since Rex-9 arrived, although he does still ask about
Bryan, sometimes.

4. Michael, 27

A friend from school, Billy, posted on social media about his new AI dog. I sent him a message and it turns out
Billy spends most of his time playing video games. He works from home and rarely leaves his bedroom. Now, I’m
not a psychologist, but I don’t think a fake pet is going to help him. A real dog would get him out of the house.
A living, breathing cat would be better for him than a virtual one! Studies have shown that having a pet can help
with depression and anxiety. AI pets, on the other hand, are just taking advantage of lonely, desperate people. I
invited Billy out for a drink, but he said he was busy with his robot dog.

Sources: BBC, The Guardian, The Verge

6 Reading comprehension

Part A: Read the article again. Match statements with the correct speakers. Some statements can be
matched to more than one speaker. One of the statements cannot be matched to any of the speakers
and should be marked ‘Not given’.

Chris Fiona Michael Michael not given Rachael

i. They know somebody who has an AI or robotic pet. → and

ii. They think AI pets are dangerous. →

iii. They own an AI or robotic pet. →

iv. They own a real pet. →

v. They are worried about somebody who owns an AI or robotic pet. →

Part B: For each question, choose the answer you believe best suits the speaker.

1. What does Chris like the most about Jossy?

a. that she gives him attention

b. that she’s loyal

c. that she looks like a real cat

2. What does Fiona’s dog like to do?

a. bark a lot b. play football in the park c. watch sports on TV

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3. What does Rachael’s father talk about when she visits him?

a. a robotic dog called Rex-9

b. a friend called Bryan

c. a dog called Bryan

4. Why does Michael think that a real dog would be more helpful for Billy than an AI pet?

a. he thinks it would get him out of the house

b. he thinks that it would remind Billy of his old dog

c. he believes it would help him to meet a new girlfriend

7 Talking point

In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions.

1. Why do you think some people would prefer a robotic pet to a real one?

2. In the future, will robotic pets completely replace real companion animals? Why/why not?

3. Do you think it’s a good idea to give children robotic pets or toys? Could anything go wrong?

4. Can caring for a real pet teach us things that we can’t learn from robots? If so, what can they teach
us?

5. Why might robotic pets be more suitable than real ones for people with dementia?

6. Do you think that robots will ever be as intelligent as humans? Should we try to achieve this?

7. Why do you think that there are more pets in Japan than children under fifteen? Is this something
to be worried about?

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8 Extension activity: essay and group presentation

Task A: Write an opinion essay on ONE of the topics below. Your essay should agree with or disagree
with the statement, and should be between 240 – 280 words.

• Caring for a living creature teaches children about life.

• Inviting a robot into your home is a terrible idea, no matter how

fluffy the product appears to be.

Task B: Split into groups. Your group has been tasked with designing a new robotic or AI pet. Think
of a name for your pet, and decide what it will look like. Will it be fluffy? Will it resemble a particular
animal? Will it exist on a computer or phone screen, or will it be a robot with a special app that
customers can use to communicate with it? Who will the pet be aimed at? Will it have any therapeutic
uses? How much will it cost? After designing your new pet, present it to the class.

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Transcripts

3. Listening for specific information

Newsreader: If you’re thinking of getting a pet, but you’re worried about taking care of a living
creature, then Japanese company Casio may have the perfect solution. Their new AI
pet – a fur-covered robot called a Moflin – hit shelves earlier this month.

Newsreader: Casio, which made its name producing calculators and digital watches, has priced the
Moflin at 59,400 yen.

Newsreader: The “pet” is only available in Japan at the moment, and there are no plans to stock the
item overseas.

Newsreader: The Moflin is the latest example of a robot companion animal, following in the
footsteps of Sony’s Aibo – a robotic puppy that was released in 1999.

Newsreader: Early versions of AI pets include Bandai Namco’s Tamagotchi, a small, plastic device
that could be held in the hand. The Tamagotchi, which had a tiny LCD screen that
displayed a pixellated* image of a virtual pet, has sold over ninety-four million units
worldwide.

Newsreader: Whereas Tamagotchis needed to be cared for, fed and played with, Moflins are less
demanding. The product resembles a small, furry animal, like a hamster or guinea pig,
and can move in response to touch. Moflins can communicate with their owners by
producing noises or through a special app.

Newsreader: Although Moflins don’t need to be walked or fed, the app offers owners a score based
on how they interact with their new pet. The AI that powers the device also allows
the Moflin to “develop” through “life stages” over time, potentially forming a bond with
their humans.

Newsreader: According to a 2023 survey, there are more pets in Japan than children under fifteen.
The country is home to 7.1 million pet dogs and 8.9 million cats.

Newsreader: Although the Moflin is being marketed as a pet, similar products, such as Paro –
a therapeutic robot seal – are aimed at older members of society suffering from
loneliness and dementia. Studies have shown that virtual companion animals can
reduce anxiety levels among residents in care homes.

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
Tell the students they will be listening to a report about a new AI pet, and reading an article in which four members
of the public share their opinions on the story. The discussion activity is suitable for pairs or small groups.

2. Pre-listening task: general vocabulary

Part A:
5 mins.
Ask students to match the words with the correct definitions.
Group 1:

1. → a. 2. → g. 3. → h. 4. → b. 5. → c. 6. → e. 7. → f. 8. → d.
Group 2:

1. → h. 2. → g. 3. → b. 4. → c. 5. → d. 6. → a. 7. → e. 8. → f.
Part B:
5 mins.
Students should discuss the questions in pairs.
Glossary:
dementia - a brain condition, mostly affecting older people, in which a person has difficulties with memory, thinking,
control of the body, etc. that are severe enough to affect daily life
pixellated - describing a low-resolution digital image of something

3. Listening for specific information

Part A:
5 mins.
Individually or in pairs, ask students to listen to the report and tick the items they hear mentioned. Students should
identify the three items that were not mentioned in the recording.
Items not mentioned: machine, computer, rabbit

✓ solution ✓ plans ✓ device ✓ screen

✓ app ✓ robot ✓ society
Part B:
5 mins.
Definition of follow in somebody’s footsteps - do the same job, have the same style of life, etc. as somebody else,
especially somebody in your family

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4. Listening comprehension

5 mins.
Individually or in pairs, ask students to select the answer that best fits each question, before listening again to
check.
Group 1:

1. b. 2. c. 3. b. 4. c. 5. a.
Group 2:

1. b. 2. b. 3. a. 4. c. 5. b.

5. Pre-reading task: general vocabulary

Part A:
5 mins.
Ask students to skim through the text quickly and match the synonyms and definitions to the key vocabulary in
each paragraph.
Group 1:

1. scratch 2. disturb 3. loyal 4. barking 5. stroked

Group 2:

1. fluffy 2. psychologist 3. fake 4. depression 5. desperate

Part B:
5 mins.
Definition of worth a shot / go / try: worth trying as there is a chance of success.
Sources:
https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24268063/casio-robot-pet-moflin
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/20/fluffy-robot-weird-emotional-week-ai-pet-moflin
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-68664518

6. Reading comprehension

Part A:
5 mins.
Students should complete the task individually or in pairs. For part A, encourage students to closely read the text
and match the statements to the correct speakers.

i. Rachael ≀ Michael ii. not given iii. Chris iv. Fiona v. Michael
Part B:
5 mins.
For part B, ask students to choose the answer that most accurately reflects the question.

1. b. 2. c. 3. c. 4. a.

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7. Talking point

10 mins.
Ask students to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.

8. Extension activity: essay and group presentation

Task A:
40 mins+
For the first option, students should write an opinion essay based on one of the given topics. Encourage students
to choose a side and argue in favour of that position. Essays should be between 240 – 280 words.
Task B:
15 mins.+
For the second option, students should split into groups and design their own robotic or AI pet. For older groups,
you may wish to encourage students to focus more on the marketing side of the exercise, such as the target
audience, etc. For younger groups, you may wish to highlight the creative aspect by getting groups to design their
own posters or flyers.

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