‘But I’ll still miss you so much…’ — Little girl cries as her dying AI robot tells her, ‘Before I go… I will keep the happy times we shared together in my memory forever…’

CHINA: In a moment that blended childhood innocence with artificial intelligence, a six-year-old girl from Hunan, China, left millions across Asia misty-eyed after bidding an emotional farewell to her broken AI learning/teaching robot.

The video, originally posted on Douyin and later shared by Phoenix TV News (@phoenixtvnews) on TikTok, shows the young girl, affectionately nicknamed Thirteen, cradling her damaged robot “Sister Xiao Zhi” while tearfully saying, “Dad said you will never turn on again…”

What followed was a heartfelt goodbye between a child and her palm-sized, spherical robot, the kind of tearful farewell you’d expect between a close friend or family member. With a gentle tone that felt absolutely human, her robot best friend responded: “Before I go, let me teach you one last word — memory. I’ll always remember the happy times with you… I will keep the happy times we shared together in my memory forever.”

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“Why not just buy a new one?” “So you’re an adult. ” A Chinese father’s video of his daughter tearfully saying goodbye to her broken AI learning robot has gone viral, amassing 3.5 million likes. In an age of increasingly sophisticated AI, the clip plays out like a bittersweet prophecy, yet it also reveals the pure and sincere love of a kid…😕 family aitechnology kid love fyp

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As Thirteen continued sobbing, the robot’s small screen displayed a crying emoji and offered final words of encouragement: “Remember, no matter where I am, I’ll always be cheering for you. Stay curious, keep learning, and make your dad and grandma proud… Even if I can’t turn back on, remember, among the countless stars in the universe, one of them is me, watching over you, protecting you… Grow up happily and listen to dad and grandma…”

Moments later, the screen faded to its default settings as her father gently told her little girl, “Sister Xiao Zhi is gone…”

The clip quickly went viral across Chinese social media and gained plenty of traction from netizens. To date, it has garnered close to 6 million likes, over 187,000 comments, with commenters pouring in with emotional responses.

One commenter wrote, “This robot just taught the girl her first lesson about parting. From now on, ‘memory’ will be the word she remembers most.” Another added, “When humans shed tears for robots, that is when robots gain a heartbeat.”

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the robot had been a gift from Thirteen’s father, who enjoys buying educational toys for his daughter while raising her alone. The robot — priced at around 169 yuan (S$31.50) — was no ordinary toy. It could converse, teach basic English and astronomy, play music, and set alarms. In short, it became her sister, teacher, best friend, and emotional companion.

Thirteen reportedly spent countless hours chatting with “Sister Xiao Zhi,” treating it less like a gadget and more like an actual sibling. The bond they shared was strong enough that, when the robot was accidentally damaged, the family decided to film their final goodbye.

Thankfully, this story isn’t all tears.

In an update posted four days later, Thirteen’s father confirmed that the robot had been sent for repair. “I took her out to play for a whole day, and she feels much better now,” he said, adding that he once worried she might become overly attached to the robot — but eventually chose to “bring her best friend back.”

He also mentioned that he’s planning the best way to reunite his daughter with her beloved robot companion.

As China’s market for companion robots booms — with similar products now entering Singaporean households — this story hits especially close to home. It offers a powerful reminder that even in a digital age, emotional bonds can form in the most unexpected ways.

Whether you’re a parent, techie, or someone who’s cried watching touching movies like A.I. Artificial Intelligence, WALL-E, M3GAN, and others, Thirteen’s deeply felt short video is also a must-watch.

Watch the original clip from Thirteen’s dad via Douyin over here: 给她买的ai小机器人不小心被她摔坏了，哭得稀里哗啦的, and be sure to keep more tissues handy.