Since September 2026, a gray Booboo has been part of Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel’s privately funded Social Robots Lab. Alternative names include Boo Boo, BooBoo, and Cupboo AI Robotic Pet. A black Booboo had already been living there since July 2024, but in July 2026 it traveled to the University of Potsdam to spend some time there. Genmoor writes on its website: “Boo Boo is not just a toy. It is also the king of the planet Lonely …” (Genmoor website). According to the manufacturer, Boo Boo’s movements are made possible by a complex control system. “Therefore please be kind to Boo Boo, it is not an ordinary robotic pet. It could give you different responds according to your interaction.” (Genmoor website) Other robots and figures at the Social Robots Lab include Unitree Go2, Alpha Mini, Cozmo, Vector, AIBI, Eiliko, Furby, Tamagotchi, Hugvie, and HUGGIE. NAO and Pepper have also visited repeatedly, as revealed in a 2023 3sat documentary. According to its own description, the Genmoor Group is an “exclusive group for daring futurists who love tech-psychology” (Genmoor website). The company was founded in Hangzhou, China, in 2020. The black Booboo is particularly popular in Oliver Bendel’s elective modules on social robotics. The gray one will introduce itself in February. Student Sushana Yogeswararasah, a former participant, has already named it Kumo – Japanese for “cloud” or “spider”, depending on the context and the characters used.
BY OLIVER BENDEL
