The Future of Moxie: A Ray of Hope Amid Closure
This month brought bittersweet news for fans and families of the Moxie robot, a creation of the startup Embodied. These $800 robots, designed to provide emotional support to children aged 5 to 10, are facing an uncertain fate as the company announced it is shutting down. The decision means that Moxie will soon be rendered inoperable, as the robot relies heavily on cloud connectivity to perform its core functions. But in an unexpected twist, Embodied is working on a potential lifeline for Moxie by moving towards an open-source initiative.
A Glimmer of Hope
In a recent LinkedIn blog post, Embodied CEO Paolo Pirjanian revealed some intriguing news. Former members of Moxie’s technical team are collaborating to create an open-source alternative called "OpenMoxie." This initiative aims to develop a local server application that users can run on their personal computers.
The underlying idea is revolutionary: once completed, OpenMoxie will allow technically inclined individuals to maintain Moxie’s essential functionalities and even innovate new features—all independently of Embodied’s cloud servers. According to Pirjanian, the goal is to empower the community to customize Moxie to meet their specific needs. How refreshing is that?
What to Expect from OpenMoxie
The current roadmap indicates that after OpenMoxie’s release, the company will also provide all necessary code and documentation for eager developers and users to dive in. “This update is a vital first step to keep the door open for Moxie’s continued functionality,” Pirjanian stated.
As of now, OpenMoxie is still in development, and no release date has been announced. While there’s room for optimism, it’s worth noting that Embodied has carefully phrased their communications to leave some ambiguity—there’s always a chance that the project won’t materialize.
Keeping Your Moxie Alive
For existing Moxie users, an Over-The-Air (OTA) update is currently available. This update is crucial for those who want to transition to the OpenMoxie system. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, users will need to connect their robot to Wi-Fi and keep it powered on for at least an hour to complete the update. With the company announcing it won’t support users who run into complications during this process, timely updating is essential.
Failing to update your Moxie in time could result in losing all functionality, which would be a significant loss—especially for families who have come to rely on Moxie for emotional support.
The Bigger Picture
This move towards open-sourcing Moxie has sparked conversations about the future of AI companions. While startups often face challenges that can lead to shutdowns, such scenarios also open up opportunities for communities to take charge of their technology. Imagine a world where users can tweak and enhance their AI companions, creating unique experiences tailored to their family’s needs.
For tech enthusiasts and parents alike, this story serves as a reminder of the incredible potential in AI and robotics, along with the community’s power to keep innovation alive. Joining the open-source movement could pave new paths for future developments in tech, emphasizing collaboration between creators and consumers.
As Embodied navigates these changes, one thing is certain: the road ahead remains filled with possibilities. The decision to handle Moxie’s downfall through community engagement shows a commitment to enhancing user experience in unprecedented ways.
To wrap things up, while the fate of Moxie is still uncertain, the potential for an open-sourced future is brimming with excitement. The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.
