This picture taken on January 7, 2025 shows Zhang Yachun posing with her AI-powered robot named Aluo at her home in Beijing. Zhang, 19, has long battled anxiety over school and work, and has struggled to form deep friendships with other people. But since buying a BooBoo -- a "smart pet" that uses artificial intelligence to interact with humans -- she says life has become easier. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP) / To go with 'CHINA-AI-SOCIETY-TECHNOLOGY, FOCUS' by Mary Yang, with Emily Wang in Nanjing (Photo by ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images)