Ghost in the Machine: The Rise, Fall, and Precarious Rebirth of AI Companion Robots for Neurodivergent Children
Executive Overview In the quiet hum of a New York apartment, a 10-year-old neurodivergent boy named Xander chats easily with a 15-inch-tall companion. Resembling a blue, legless astronaut with a cylindrical body and an expressive digital face, this companion is Moxie—an artificial intelligence-powered social robot designed to foster connection, practice social cues, and offer a…