There’s a time in nearly every child’s life where the desire for a pet becomes a primary focus. Yet, not all parents can or want to take care of an animal.

Sony is hoping to resolve this issue with the introduction of its robot dog Aibo. Sony shelved Aibo more that a decade ago, but the tech giant has brought the device back, and it’s better than ever with a dash of artificial intelligence. Or, artificial canine intelligence.

Aibo is certainly cute but not exactly soft and cuddly. However, thanks to a number advanced AI tech features, the robotic canine is able to recognize its surroundings, learn new tricks, and even create a more authentic bond with its owner.

Due to its facial expressions and voice recongition capabilities, Sony’s version of man’s best friend is far more responsive than other animated toys. In fact, Aibo collects learned behaviors in cloud storage and will develop its own personality over time.

Additional features like fish-eye cameras, special sensors, intricate mechanics, and more allow Aibo to run to its owner when called, wag its tail, and detect the difference in images and sounds.

The reintroduction of Aibo is sure to make a number of dogless children quite happy, in addition to signaling Sony’s focus on further developing its AI ventures.