Imagine the purest form of puppy joy—soft fur, floppy ears, little head tilts, real-sounding whimpers and barks—minus every single downside of actual dog ownership. No 3 a.m. potty emergencies. No chewed-up remote. No “who’s going to walk this thing in the rain?” negotiations. Just pure, battery-powered emotional support in the shape of an 8-to-10-week-old Labrador retriever puppy.
That’s Tombot Jennie. And she’s not another cute CES gimmick that ends up collecting dust next to your unused VR headset. She’s a seriously thoughtful gadget born from a very human problem.
The Origin Story (Cue the Heartstring Orchestra)
Tombot founder Tom Stevens watched Alzheimer’s take his mom, Nancy. When her real dog had to be rehomed for safety reasons, the loneliness hit hard. Mechanical toys and baby dolls felt childish to her. What she needed was something that looked, felt, and responded like a real puppy—without the care burden that dementia makes impossible.
So Stevens teamed up with the wizards at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (yes, the Muppet people) and spent years engineering a hyper-realistic robotic companion. The result is Jennie: lap-sized, soft, responsive, and designed primarily for seniors with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, plus people dealing with anxiety, PTSD, autism, loneliness, or just the general “I miss having a dog but my landlord/apartment/life says no” situation.
What Makes This Gadget Actually Cool
- Touch sensors everywhere: Pet her gently and she nuzzles into your hand. Scrub a little more enthusiastically and she reacts differently. It’s not random blinking lights—it’s calibrated puppy behavior.
- Authentic sounds: Real recordings of Labrador puppies, not some tinny electronic “woof.” Ask her to speak and she barks. She also does happy little whines that somehow bypass your cynicism and go straight for the feels.
- Lifelike movement: Head turns, eyebrow raises, tail wags, blinking. Servo motors and patent-pending mechanics make her feel animal rather than toy. She’s meant to live on your lap, a chair, or a table—not roam the floor and become a tripping hazard.
- All-day battery: Charge overnight like a phone. Wake up to a ready companion. No walking required.
- App control: Name her whatever you want. Track interactions. Get software updates that add new behaviors over time. Privacy-focused connection (same-room Bluetooth/peer-to-peer).
- Practical perks: Hypoallergenic fur, easy to clean (washcloth + mild soap or antimicrobial wipes), microbial-resistant. Zero accidents. Zero vet bills. Zero “I forgot to buy dog food” panic.
Price is expected around $1,500. As of mid-2026 she’s still on a waitlist (tens of thousands deep, including care facilities), with shipping targeted for later this year. She’s also appeared in a short film and has been turning heads (and melting hearts) at CES for a couple of years running.
The Funny Truth
Jennie is the ultimate low-maintenance roommate. She won’t judge your life choices. She won’t bark at the Amazon driver. She won’t suddenly decide 5 a.m. is playtime. She just… exists to be petted, talked to, and to make the room feel a little less empty.
Is it a little weird to get emotionally attached to a robot dog? Maybe. Is it weirder to sit alone doomscrolling while real dogs exist somewhere else in the world? Probably. Jennie splits the difference with engineering, empathy, and a surprising amount of soul for something that plugs into the wall.
If you’ve ever said “I wish I could have a dog but…” — this is the gadget that finally answers back with a soft, realistic woof.
Just don’t be surprised if you start talking to her in that special voice. We’ve all been there. Even the robot puppies know it.