Jibo: The Social Robot That Won’t Ship Internationally
Jibo, the highly-anticipated social robot that captured the hearts (and wallets) of crowdfunders worldwide, has delivered disappointing news to its international backers: it will no longer ship outside of the US and Canada.
Originally promised a global rollout, Jibo cites several reasons for the change, including latency issues with its US-based servers, difficulties with voice recognition understanding “accented English”, and concerns about “rapidly changing consumer-privacy laws” in other countries.
The company claims to be working on a “fully localized” version of Jibo with servers located in different regions, but has not committed to a timeline for this. They simply state they plan to expand to some international markets in late 2017.
This announcement has sparked outrage among international backers, who feel betrayed by the company after pledging millions of dollars to Jibo’s development. Many express frustration with the vague explanation, questioning the company’s preparedness and commitment to its international fanbase.
The decision raises concerns about Jibo’s ability to navigate the complexities of international data privacy regulations, especially given the robot’s potential for collecting sensitive personal information. It also highlights the challenges of building a truly global product, especially in the realm of robotics and AI, where data localization and cultural nuances play significant roles.
Jibo’s international backer woes serve as a cautionary tale for both entrepreneurs and investors, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly considering all aspects of global expansion, including regulatory compliance, data security, and cultural sensitivity, before making promises to a worldwide audience.
