At a shopping mall in Beijing, Zhang Yachun murmurs quietly to her closest confidant, a fluffy AI-powered robot whose soothing chirps remind her that she is not alone. 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. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES