Jennie Delights Seniors in CES 2026 Real-World Demos

CES Booth Joy Sparks

At CES 2026 in January, Tombot's Jennie robotic puppy captivated seniors during immersive real-world demos at a homelike booth in the Venetian Expo. Residents like Margaret Botts cradled the lifelike pup, feeling its simulated heartbeat quicken under gentle strokes, exclaiming it felt utterly real and begging to take one home. Care facility managers witnessed residents' faces light up with unbridled joy, demonstrating Jennie's power to pierce through isolation. These interactions highlighted proven reductions in agitation for dementia patients, positioning Jennie as a game-changer in senior care just as production finalizes for 18,000 preorder customers.

Lifelike Puppy Responses

Jennie replicates an 8-10 week-old puppy with uncanny precision, thanks to collaborations with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop for enhanced production cosmetics unveiled at CES 2026. Nine servo motors drive natural head turns, eye blinks, tail wags, and even a detectable heartbeat, all synced to user interactions. Authentic sounds from real Labrador retrievers add emotional depth, while a smartphone app lets caregivers customize names, behaviors, and monitor engagement. This blend of whimsy and tech transforms passive devices into responsive companions that foster daily bonds without live pet hassles.

Sensor-Driven Intelligence

Advanced sensing elevates Jennie beyond gimmicks, with full-body capacitive touch sensors distinguishing caresses from vigorous pets, triggering tailored reactions like contented sighs or playful wiggles. A multi-microphone array with beamforming captures voices clearly, paired with a 3-axis IMU for motion awareness and environmental sensors for light and temperature cues. Proprietary AI orchestrates these inputs for autonomous, context-aware behaviors, all while a stationary design eliminates roaming risks in care settings. CES demos proved this engineering delivers intuitive, heartbeat-synced responses that feel profoundly alive.

Therapeutic Bonds Formed

Jennie targets dementia, anxiety, loneliness, PTSD, and hospital stress, slashing behavioral symptoms like agitation and cutting psychotropic drug reliance in trials. Memory care communities report residents engaging longer, sparking smiles and conversations long absent. For seniors with cognitive decline, her lap-based companionship provides unwavering emotional support, aiding cognitive health without cleanup or allergies. CES 2026 outreach to caregivers underscored deployments in homes, hospitals, and assisted living, where Jennie disrupts isolation by delivering pet therapy benefits on demand, round-the-clock.

Core Tech Specs Shine

Jennie's compact frame measures 30 x 60 x 25 cm and weighs just 2.3 kg, ideal for lap use in fragile environments. As a stationary legged robot with 0 km/h speed, it prioritizes safety via collision avoidance sensors, soft materials, and emergency app controls, dodging fall hazards common in care homes. A standout 3-5 year battery life powers all-day interactions with overnight recharges, fueled by 16 pressure-sensitive touch sensors, beamforming microphones, IMU, light, and temperature sensors. Proprietary AI OS integrates seamlessly with apps, enabling persistent companionship that sustains real-world emotional relief.