From VR Experiences to AI-Powered Animals: 9 Ways PETA Uses Technology to Inspire Compassion
PETA isn’t just keeping up with the times—we’re setting the pace. From advanced AI-powered advocacy to immersive virtual-reality (VR) experiences that put you in animals’ shoes, PETA is harnessing the power of tech to expose cruelty and inspire compassion like never before.
This isn’t your old-school animal-rights advocacy—it’s bold, it’s cutting-edge, and it’s a force to be reckoned with. Take a look at how PETA is using new tech to revolutionize animal liberation.
Hennifer Coolidge
PETA’s sassy robo-chicken Hennifer Coolidge is here to steal the spotlight—and your heart. Named after the vegan, award-winning actress Jennifer Coolidge and voiced to sound just like her, Hennifer brings equal parts glamour, comedy, and clucking conviction everywhere she goes—from busy city streets to the Grammy® Gift Lounge. Her signature line says it all:“I want you to go vegan real bad.”
PETA’s chatty chicken reminds everyone that sensitive hens are not breast- or egg-producing machines—they’re curious, unique individuals who, like all mothers, want to raise their precious chicks in peace.
AutoRabbit
When tech taps into compassion, you get “AutoRabbit” (A.R.)—our first-ever Virtual Engagement Officer, powered by AI. Designed to foster stronger connections with supporters, AutoRabbit delivers personalized emails and texts to keep animal defenders informed, engaged, and empowered. With this helpful resource, users can stay plugged into PETA’s latest big wins for animals, find out what’s cruel and what’s not, learn simple tips for compassionate living, and get inspired to take positive actions for animals.
Charli XC Cow
Put the camera flash on! PETA’s sassy AI-powered robot calf, Charli XC Cow, is everywhere—from shopping malls to storefronts—to encourage everyone to have a heart 365 days a year by choosing vegan leather and letting animals keep their skins. Leather-clad shoppers beware—this bold bovine bot isn’t afraid to call you out. She steals the stoplight at demos, asking passersby, “Are you wearing my mother?” or exclaiming, “Yuck! Leather is someone’s skin!”
Try to hide that leather bag, and you might hear her shout, “Stop, thief! That leather purse was my sister!” Between the witty remarks, Charli XC Cow delivers hard-hitting facts about the cruelty of the leather industry and its environmental toll—making it impossible to ignore the case for wearing vegan.
When passersby share that they’re donning vegan leather or no animals at all, the charismatic calf can’t contain her excitement; she busts out a joyful dance or forms a sweet air heart with her hooves. This lovable robot calf thrives on kindness, especially from kids who give her gentle pats, prompting her to beam and say, “Kindness seems more your style.” With endless charm and lots of heart, Charli XC Cow is redefining animal advocacy—one hoof-heart at a time.
Abduction
Abduction turns reality on its head, dropping humans directly into the place of experimentation victims—abducted, caged, prodded, and tested on by an alien species. In this chilling, immersive VR experience, users are abducted by an alien species and taken aboard a spaceship, where they are restrained and forced to watch shadowy figures shove tubes down their friends’ throats, force them to inhale substances, and mutilate them—the same horrors that animals suffer in labs every day.
With heart-pounding realism, Abduction forces viewers to confront the cruelty of animal testing—giving humans a first-person perspective on the fear, pain, and defenselessness our fellow animals feel when humans snatch them from their homes or breed them in labs to use them in experiments.
Travis Beaker
Cue the drumroll for Travis Beaker—our trotting, squawking, feather-flashing robotic turkey named in honor of vegan rock legend and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. This holiday-season showstopper brings a little punk-rock energy to a very serious message: each year in the U.S. alone, an estimated 68 million turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.
Travis Beaker isn’t here to stay quiet about that. He stands in front of grocery stores with full gobble-gobble confidence, especially during the holiday rush, when turkeys are most often on shopping lists instead of being seen as the intelligent, social individuals they are. Shoppers may even find themselves directly confronted by his feathery firmware warnings: “I’ll know if you walk out with a turkey in your cart!”
Daisy the Animatronic Dog
Paws-itively inspiring young minds everywhere, Daisy the Dog is PETA’s friendly, enthusiastic robot pit bull who brings lessons in kindness and empathy straight into elementary schools and youth programs through TeachKind, PETA’s humane education division.
Through engaging, interactive conversations, the charismatic canine encourages children to treat dogs—and all animals—with care, respect, and compassion. Daisy also helps students understand the importance of adopting rather than buying from breeders and reminds them that companion animals depend on us for everything they need—love, food, shelter, and safety. Wherever Daisy goes, it’s a tail-wagging time!
When They Came for Us
It isn’t just a game—it’s a reckoning. This harrowing VR roleplay throws players into a high-stakes standoff with an alien life form that sees humans the same way some humans see our fellow animals: as objects to be used. In this gripping scenario, players have just seven minutes to plead their case—to explain why they deserve to live free from exploitation. It uses groundbreaking OpenAI technology to enable users to have spoken conversations with the aliens, who will respond differently depending on what the player says, ensuring that each experience is unique and creating an infinite number of possible outcomes.
It’s not just virtual reality—it’s emotional reality. Every moment is designed to provoke empathy, posing the powerful question: How would you feel if it were done to you?
Anitta Rosita
Meet Anitta Rosita—PETA Latino’s AI-powered piggy with a message you won’t forget. Named after Brazilian superstar and animal liberation advocate Anitta, this spunky sow spouts fun facts about pigs—like that they dream when they sleep, recognize their own names, and show empathy for other pigs who are happy or distressed—while encouraging passersby to go vegan.
And if you cross Miss Rosita’s path, she’ll get straight to the oink and ask: “Would it kill you to eat a vegan ham?”
Ellie the Mechanical Elephant
She’s got big ears and an even bigger personality. TeachKind’s life-sized, awe-inspiring mechanical elephant Ellie is on a mission to spark empathy in students through unforgettable, interactive school visits. With remarkable, lifelike movements—she can nod her head, wiggle her ears, and “laugh” along with students—Ellie captivates classrooms and youth programs all over the country.
More than an incredible presence, Ellie has a story to tell. Rescued from the circus, Ellie helps young audiences better understand animals’ feelings and experiences, inspiring empathy and reminding that all animals deserve compassion. Her message is simple but powerful: all animals are individuals with thoughts, feelings, and needs of their own.
Join PETA’s Action Team!
Our advocacy methods get more advanced, but PETA’s message remains the same: Every animal is someone. If these innovative animal-liberation efforts have inspired you, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Join PETA’s action team to be a powerful force for change. Together, we can create a future where all of our fellow animals are respected, protected, and free of exploitation.
