Gregg the Egg 

Gregg the Egg emerged from a simple yet profound question: what makes us want to care for something? Together with my teammates, we created this small, vulnerable being who embodies the universal need for social connection in the Artificial Creatures course. Gregg is essentially an egg wrapped in soft pink yarn, but his true power lies in his emotional transparency. When left alone, he produces the soft crying sounds that immediately make you want to pick him up and comfort him. The moment you hold him or play with him, those cries transform into happy beeping sounds, creating an instant feedback loop of care and gratitude.

The technical implementation was pretty simple but effective. Inside Gregg's shell, we housed an Arduino Nano and an accelerometer that detects when he's being moved, held, or rocked. Since he can't move on his own, this motion sensing became crucial for him to understand when someone is interacting with him. We also built him his very own playground using paint stirring sticks, a small basket, a hamster wheel, and lots of green paper, creating a miniature swing set, seesaw, and merry-go-round perfectly sized for his egg proportions. The entire aesthetic was designed to amplify his vulnerability and cuteness, making him irresistible to nurture.

What excited me most was watching people during our exhibition. Visitors would approach Gregg with the same gentle care they'd show a real baby or pet, speaking to him in soft voices and handling him with great care. People seemed unable to leave him crying alone, and many lingered far longer than we expected. This response revealed something beautiful about human nature: our drive to comfort vulnerable beings, regardless of whether they're "real" or not. Gregg may be artificial, but the emotions he evokes and the connections he creates are entirely genuine.

The project taught me that effective artificial creatures don't need complex behaviors or advanced AI. They need authentic emotional resonance. By focusing on the most basic human experiences of loneliness and companionship, we created a being that feels alive despite his obvious artificiality. Gregg the Egg proves that sometimes the simplest interactions can create the most profound connections, reminding us of our capability for empathy and care.