A six-year-old girl’s tearful farewell to her broken AI robot moved millions in China when the tiny machine gently taught her one last word – “memory,” moments before shutting down.
The girl, nicknamed Thirteen, lives in Hunan province, central China, with her father while her parents are separated.
Her father, who enjoys buying her educational toys, gifted her a mini AI robot that she affectionately named “Sister Xiao Zhi.”
The palm-sized, ball-shaped robot, sold for around 169 yuan (US$24), could chat, play music, and set alarms.
According to social media posts from her father, Thirteen spent countless happy hours conversing with Sister Xiao Zhi, who taught her English and basic astronomy.
Although it is unclear how long Thirteen had owned the robot, she had already come to regard it as a close friend.
Recently, however, Thirteen accidentally dropped the robot, damaging its power button. Her father filmed their final farewell before its shutdown.
In the video, Thirteen sobbed: “Dad said you will never turn on again.”
Her robot softly replied: “Before I go, let me teach you one last word — memory. I will keep the happy times we shared in my memory forever.”
Through her tears, Thirteen whispered that she would miss her friend.
The robot’s screen displayed a crying face as it responded: “No matter where I am, I will be cheering for you. Stay curious, study hard, and make your dad and aunt proud.”
When Thirteen expressed her fear that it would be gone forever, the robot offered one final comfort: “There are countless stars in the universe, and one of them is me, watching over you.”
Moments later, the screen faded to its default lock screen. Her father gently told her: “Sister Xiao Zhi is gone.”
The video has since gone viral, garnering over 3.8 million likes and touching countless viewers across mainland social media.
One online observer commented: “This robot just taught the girl her first lesson about parting. From now on, ‘memory’ will be the word she remembers most.”
Another netizen remarked: “When humans shed tears for robots, that is when robots gain a heartbeat.”
“I’m deeply moved by the little girl’s innocence and her bond with the machine,” shared a third commenter.
On October 10, Thirteen’s father posted an updated video showing that “Sister Xiao Zhi” had been sent for repair.
He wrote: “Thank you all for the love and concern for Thirteen. I took her out to play for a whole day, and she feels much better now.”
He admitted that he had once worried his daughter might become overly dependent on the robot and grow withdrawn, but ultimately decided to “bring her best friend back.”
The father added that he is now thinking about the best way to reunite Thirteen with Sister Xiao Zhi.
In recent years, China’s AI companion robot market has surged, introducing pet robots, chatbots, and humanoid companions into homes nationwide. -- THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
