A 33-Year Companion Replaced by AI? But the Warm Breath of Life Can Never Be Replaced

Kim Song-hee, who cared for Danbam during its puppyhood, watches as Danbam, now fully grown into a guide dog after completing its training, instantly recognizes her and wags its tail.

[Lee Byung-ha / Visually Impaired Individual: Thank you so much for raising him so wonderfully.]

[Kim Song-hee / Puppy Walker: Meeting you gave me true peace of mind. Danbam can be a bit of a tomboy, but I am sure he will do well here...]

After about a month of training together with visually impaired handler Lee Byung-ha, Danbam was officially transferred today (August 27).

At the 33rd-anniversary event of the Samsung Fire Guide Dog School, seven guide dogs, including Danbam, made a fresh start with seven visually impaired individuals.

Puppy walkers, who teach socialization at home before the dogs enter the guide dog school, and the visually impaired handlers shared both laughter and tears.

[Park Jung-sook / Puppy Walker: I actively recommend puppy walking to friends raising teenagers. It makes your anger vanish in an instant.]

[Kim Hong-ki / Visually Impaired Individual: If you want to go fast, walk alone; if you want to go far, walk together. If you want to be happy, walk with a guide dog...]

Four retired dogs, which completed seven to eight years of service, began the second act of their lives with new volunteers.

An encounter also took place between Eddie, a robot guide dog under development, and regular guide dogs.

Artificial intelligence technology specialized for visually impaired guidance, independently developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), was applied to a quadrupedal robot by Rainbow Robotics.

[Yoo Seok-jong / Trainer: There are quite a few significant differences in terms of pacing and the pulling force...]

Because obstacle recognition and other functions are still insufficient, it is expected to take more than five years for actual commercialization.

Furthermore, since emotional bonding is difficult, experts explain that rather than replacing regular guide dogs, the robot should be viewed as an additional option depending on the circumstances and preferences of the visually impaired.

[Lee Byung-ha / Visually Impaired Individual: A guide dog is a companion that walks with me and boosts my confidence. A robot guide dog just goes where it is told, and there is no emotional exchange with me...]

"Eyes for the Visually Impaired" for 33 Years... What About AI Robot Guide Dogs? (August 27, 2026, 8 News)

Reported by Kim Hye-min | Written by Bae Jun-hwi | Video by Choi Ho-jun | Video Editing by Shin Se-eun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.