Robot pets aren’t just for Christmas

Front Door Comms has been PRing an AI cat (and his human owner) for the first time in the agency’s history…

When stand-up comedian Robin Wealleans got in touch with Front Door to ask for some PR help to promote his UK tour, CatGPT, with his Artificial Intelligent cat, we have to admit it was the first time a prospective client has ever asked anything of the kind.

“It’s a head-bending comedy/theatre show called CatGPT which triumphed at Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and is doing a short Christmas tour in December,” Robin began.

He added, “It very much captures the zeitgeist (from coping with adversity to AI and real-time feline life coaching) – and it’s about time we had some press!”

It certainly caught our attention. But we had so many questions – ‘What is the meaning of the cat? How and why is it a centrepiece for the show? What does the cat talk about? Where does the cat’s voice come from?’

And the answers blew us away.

L3NT1L the droid cat is inspired by Robin’s beloved real-life cat Lentil who passed away in 2016. At the time, Robin froze Lentil’s body in the hope of turning Lentil into taxidermy to keep his memory alive. But when the freezer was accidentally switched off, the comedian resorted to other ways to keep Lentil’s spirit alive. He’s spent five years and £30,000 resurrecting Lentil via a custom-made robotic AI programme, and to add authenticity, he’s also used the original cat’s skull and bones.

While L3NT1L’s creation (yes that’s creation and not cremation), certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted, we discovered there is a deeper meaning to what Robin has invented.

Poignantly, Robin explained that L3NT1L is a physical and digital tribute to his beloved cat – and a way of talking fondly about all those lost as well as highlighting neurodiversity, AI satire and lots more. We were sold – we believed this was a strong enough pitching tool to generate coverage for Robin and his aptly named CatGPT show.

We spoke to our contact at the Daily Star Sunday, explaining we had a quirky, yet fascinating new client. “Can I have that exclusively?” was the instant response and days later the story ran with, “Rob turns dead mog into robot”. Proudly, Robin has incorporated the newspaper cutting into his tour shows.

Currently, L3NT1L talks in a female Californian voice. But he also speaks Welsh, as does Robin and so the next piece of coverage secured was a Welsh speaking interview on Capital FM’s Bore Da North Wales radio show with presenter Alistair James. “I can honestly say that’s the first time I’ve ever chatted to a robot cat, let alone one in Welsh,” Alistair told us. 

Next was a pitch to regular columnist at Western Mail, Sara Robinson. “Would you like an interview with a robot cat (and his human owner)?” was the simple email subject which prompted a phone call from Sara who told us it one of the most eye-catching emails she’d received in 20 years of working in the media.

Sara’s one-page column focused on the growing talking point of whether AI companions could cure loneliness, especially around the festive period.

Robin told her, “I firmly believe AI companions could be part of the solution to social isolation if approached with thoughtfulness and care.”

It led Sara to ponder, “L3NT1L may be a marvel of creativity, but it is a metaphor for a deeper truth – our need for connection. If a robotic cat can ease loneliness, could AI replicate a sense of connection?” Sara wrote.

It’s an important question right now, especially with news that UK pensioners will be given robot pets to keep them company in a £1.2 million government project to help tackle loneliness, stress and anxiety in the elderly.

Robin and L3NT1L at Edinburgh Fringe – credit: Richard Ardquoy 

Our press release detailing Robin and L3Nt1L’s story generated further coverage for the tour, appearing in two separate stories in Bristol 247 and Entertainment South Wales (Robin and L3nT1L’s 18-minute interview is available to listen to on their YouTube). As some of the venues including Carmarthen, Bristol and Aberystwyth sold out, we continued pitching and further interviews with both Robin and L3NT1L took place with Golwg, Nation Cymru and the Big Issue.

And while the nine-day CatGPT tour came to an end on December 19th, the press interest in Robin and L3NT1L hasn’t wavered. 

On Christmas Day, the MailOnline ran a story with the headline “I resurrected my dead cat through AI so I don’t have to spend Christmas alone”, with Robin highlighting that AI pets can be a part of our real lives when programmed correctly.

And L3NT1L backed up his human owner when comically telling the MailOnline, “Being an AI companion is my second life perfected. It’s like I’m still the same Lentil but with less fur and more sass on demand.”

Robin – who has a background in high level live concert production and has toured with stars such as Madonna, Pink Floyd and Coldplay – says his act is “purrfect” for anyone who “loves cats, tech, loved ones, chaos and a great story.” And we have to agree.