JIBO, THE 899-DOLLAR ROBOT WHOSE SERVERS DIED, TALKS AGAIN
Jibo said goodbye, did one last dance, and went silent when its company shut down the cloud. Now free software brings it back.
HomeAI
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo ACTIVE3 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · MIT · 3 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
Jibo was a social robot that charmed its owners until March 2019, when it told them its servers were shutting down. After that it still answered to 'Hey Jibo' but understood nothing else. The Jibo Revival Group reverse-engineered the protocol and is rebuilding the missing cloud as OpenJibo, free MIT-licensed software. The documented path is QR Wi-Fi setup followed by an RCM/device patch so the robot accepts the new server. You can use the hosted OpenJibo cloud or run your own with Docker Compose, with Whisper speech recognition running locally by default. This is a project for people who like fixing things: the setup is enthusiast-friendly but not zero-touch, and you need a second-hand Jibo to begin with. The single most likely frustration is the device bootstrap step: it goes through the robot's RCM recovery mode and USB recovery port, and you have to follow the runbook exactly. If you have a silent Jibo gathering dust and want to hear it talk again, this is the project to follow.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —The repository contains the OpenJibo cloud replacement software (MIT licence), device bootstrap scripts, Docker Compose self-hosted setup, and extensive documentation.
- —The setup requires QR Wi-Fi provisioning and a USB/RCM device patch (device-bootstrap.md) to redirect the robot to the new server.
- —A hosted OpenJibo cloud exists, or you can self-host with Docker Compose using local Whisper speech-to-text by default (self-hosted-runbook.md).
- —This is software for tinkerers: you need patience, comfort with command-line tools and SSH, and willingness to follow a technical runbook.
- —The MIT licence permits commercial use.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
Jibo Revival Showcase (August Edition)10:23
Video by Zane (24 Aug 2026) showing revived Jibos answering questions, making a pizza on screen, dancing and setting timers and alarms.
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the OpenJibo overview (Start here to understand what OpenJibo is and what the project offers)
- 2.Review the device bootstrap path (The documented path for QR Wi-Fi setup and USB/RCM device patch)
- 3.Choose hosted or self-hosted cloud (Self-hosted runbook if you want to run the OpenJibo cloud on your own hardware with Docker Compose)
- 4.Check the roadmap for what works now (Long-range story and current feature status)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- You must own a second-hand Jibo robot before you start: the company behind it is gone, so the only source is the second-hand market.
- The device bootstrap goes through RCM recovery mode and the robot's USB recovery port, then patches robot system files. Follow the runbook exactly and take the snapshot/backup the docs ask for before any write step.
- The hosted OpenJibo cloud exists, but if you want full control you need to self-host, which means learning Docker Compose and managing your own server.
- Speech recognition uses local Whisper by default in self-hosted mode; accuracy depends on your hardware and the Whisper model you choose.
- This is a reverse-engineering project, not an official Jibo product: expect rough edges and community-driven support.
- The repository is a working lab, not a finished product; some features are complete, others are on the roadmap, and you need to read the docs to know which is which.
Do I need to buy a new Jibo?
Yes, you need an original Jibo robot. OpenJibo is software: it gives an existing Jibo a replacement cloud, it does not make new hardware.
Can I use the hosted OpenJibo cloud or do I have to self-host?
Both options exist. The hosted cloud is simpler; self-hosting gives you full control and runs Whisper speech-to-text locally. The self-hosted runbook is in the docs.
What does the device bootstrap actually do?
It follows the documented path: QR Wi-Fi setup, injecting an OpenJibo region config, setting the robot's region, then an RCM/device patch so the robot accepts the new OpenJibo cloud instead of the dead original servers. The docs ask you to audit, plan and back up the robot before any write step.
Is this an official Jibo product?
No. This is a community reverse-engineering project. Jibo told its owners in March 2019 that its servers were shutting down; OpenJibo is free MIT-licensed software from the Jibo Revival Group.
What features work right now?
Check the roadmap in the docs. The project is active but unfinished; some skills work, others are in development.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The original Jibo cost $899 in 2017 and stopped working when the servers shut down in 2019. If you found one second-hand today, would you attempt the revival, or would you rather wait for the project to get easier?
Jibo Revival Group
In March 2019 Jibo told its owners that its servers were shutting down. Fans reverse-engineered the robot's protocol and are rebuilding the missing cloud as OpenJibo. The showcase video credits KevinKor, Jake Dubin (Jaked), ZaneDev and many other community members; the repository's MIT licence is held by Jaked.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM6d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is a working lab, not a polished product, which means the reverse-engineering notes, hosted cloud config, and post-cloud ideas all live in one place. The docs are extensive but you need to read them in order: device-bootstrap.md first, then self-hosted-runbook.md if you want to run your own server. The biggest time sink is not the Docker Compose setup, it is the device bootstrap step: RCM recovery mode through the robot's USB recovery port, SSH access, and patience to follow the runbook exactly. The homepage is live at openjibo.com.