Casio AI robot psychological study in Japanese school

Casio Computer Co., Ltd. has initiated a verification project at Ritsumeikan Moriyama Junior and Senior High School in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, to test the psychological impact of its AI pet robot, ‘Moflin’.

Starting September 1, 2026, the project utilizes the palm-sized robot to support the well-being of students and teachers within school health rooms. The study aims to evaluate how the robot affects anxiety levels, emotional regulation, and communication patterns. Researchers are collecting quantitative data, including visit frequency and duration of stays, alongside qualitative data from surveys and interviews scheduled at one, three, and seven-month intervals.

The study is expected to run through March 2027. Moflin uses proprietary emotional AI to develop a unique personality through interaction, capable of producing over 4 million character variations. The project seeks to determine if the robot can function as a ‘buddy’ to facilitate relationship building and mental health support in an educational environment. Additionally, a new sakura-colored version of the robot was released on September 4, 2026.