--- title: Man’s best friend may be getting a new best friend — and it’s AI? - The Hustle description: Companion is a smart device billing itself as “your dog’s automated, always-available playmate.” image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/826433325-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay202202023dog_companion.webp --- # Man’s best friend may be getting a new best friend — and it’s AI? ![Ben Berkley](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Ben Berkley](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/ben-berkley) Published: May 02, 2023 Updated: October 11, 2023 As if we needed proof that dog owners would do anything for their precious pups, the numbers back them up. ![dog and bones](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/826433325-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay202202023dog_companion.webp?width=595&height=400&name=826433325-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay202202023dog_companion.webp) In a [recent study](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/04/14/pet-spending-remains-high-despite-inflation/11659894002/) from Ally Financial, pet parents proved their monetary commitment: - 46% claimed to spend the same — or more — on their pets as they do on their actual human children. - 51% said they’d take on debt to care for their pets’ health. - 53% reported a willingness to spend less on themselves to better provide for their pets. So it’s no wonder San Francisco-based startup [Companion](https://joincompanion.com/) is confident its $49/mo. doggie au pair of a device will dispense ample treats for its investors. #### **What is it?** Companion is a smart device designed to serve as a playmate (and nanny, and maybe kind of a veterinarian?) for dogs. - The stationary box features an onboard computer, AI software, and a camera. - Owners can monitor their dog via app, while Companion employs machine learning to track dogs’ physical and emotional health through movement and routine. - Stimulation and entertainment are offered through interactive games and obedience practice. - And your dog is gonna need to sit — *sit!* — before hearing this feature: Companion has an automated treat dispenser. #### **Who’s a good robot? Companion wants to be** We’ll find out whether it actually is, eventually. Pre-orders recently opened, with first shipments expected to go out in summer 2024. And, [per](https://www.axios.com/2023/04/17/dog-babysitter-nanny-pets) *Axios*, enough cats have been enamored with the device that Companion hopes to eventually launch a “feline-oriented” product. **One caveat: **None of the dogs who’ve tested Companion are as perfect as your dog, who is inarguably the best dog in the world. 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Signup for a free account Close modal ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Ben Berkley", "url" : "https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/ben-berkley" }, "datePublished" : "2023-05-02T22:16:12.000Z", "headline" : "Man’s best friend may be getting a new best friend — and it’s AI?", "image" : [ "https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/826433325-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay202202023dog_companion.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/man-s-best-friend-may-be-getting-a-new-best-friend-and-it-s-ai", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" } } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "#article", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Ben Berkley", "url" : "https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/ben-berkley" }, "dateModified" : "2023-10-11T19:25:06+0000", "datePublished" : "2023-05-02T22:16:12+0000", "headline" : "Man’s best friend may be getting a new best friend — and it’s AI?", "image" : [ "https://7355427.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7355427/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/826433325-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay202202023dog_companion.webp" ], "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 112, "url" : "https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/Blog%202021/Images/Logos/HubSpot%20Logo%20112X112.svg", "width" : 112 }, "name" : "HubSpot", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/hubspot", "https://twitter.com/hubspot" ], "url" : "https://www.hubspot.com" }, "speakable" : { "@type" : "SpeakableSpecification", "xPath" : [ "//title", "/html/head/meta[@name='description']/@content" ] } } ```