As Barney Pudowski (age unspecified) marks yet another birthday devoid of the company of friends, both his father, Graham, and grandmother, Donka, cannot help but draw a sharp contrast between his lonely life and that of his former friends—Savannah (Kylie Cantrall), Rich (Ricardo Hurtado), Noah (Cullen McCarthy), and Ava (Ava Morse)—who are now inseparable thanks to their B-bots. In a sudden impulse to remedy Barney's social withdrawal, they venture to the local Bubble store, only to discover it shuttered for the day. In their desperation, they turn to a delivery driver and opt to purchase a slightly damaged B-bot, which will soon ignite a series of adventures for Barney.
While initially thrilled, Barney's joy is fleeting as he soon realizes that his new companion is riddled with flaws and prone to glitches. To avoid disappointing his father, he considers returning the defective robot, a choice that leads to an unexpected entanglement with Rich and his friends, who relish in Barney's predicaments. As the B-bot, later dubbed Ron Bintscatsco by Barney, continues to malfunction, it begins to take matters into its own hands, resulting in chaotic escapades that ultimately see Barney and Ron on the run.
News of their escapades captures the attention of Marc Wydell (Justice Smith), the CEO of Bubble, who initially delights in witnessing the B-bot's rebellion against its programming. However, Andrew Morris (Rob Delaney), another high-ranking executive, perceives this scenario as a public relations disaster, insisting that Ron must be destroyed to restore order. As Barney and Ron elude capture and grow closer, they forge an unlikely partnership that inspires Ron to redefine his purpose: aiding Barney in winning over his classmates.
As harsh realities unfold, Barney faces expulsion from school and a rift with his erstwhile friend Ron. Nonetheless, upon returning home, he comes to a poignant realization that Ron was merely trying to embody the mentoring relationship they shared. This understanding urges Barney to reconsider his feelings towards Ron, prompting both to take a leap of faith in fleeing from Bubble’s desperate authorities. A transient encounter with Savannah, who is enduring her own struggles, leads Barney to confide in her about his plan to seek refuge in the woods.
In the meantime, Marc's forewarnings to Andrew regarding the dangers of Ron’s self-governing features are disregarded. Unfazed, Marc clandestinely seeks out Ron while Bubble deploys its considerable resources to round up all B-bots and initiates a frantic search in the woods. The relentless weather and Barney's pre-existing asthma begin to take a toll on him, leaving him weary and fragile. In a moment of bravery, Ron’s quick thinking and selfless actions ultimately guide them back towards civilization, where Savannah, Rich, Noah, and Ava rush to provide assistance.
While recovering in a hospital, Barney reunites with Marc, who has exerted considerable effort to save Ron from Bubble's grasp. However, due to Andrew’s takeover, Marc finds himself locked out of the system, unable to access Ron's initial programming. Determined to restore his friend, Barney devises an intricate plan alongside Graham, Donka, and Marc to infiltrate the Bubble headquarters. Risking everything, Barney navigates through the depths of the database and successfully uploads Ron's original code, effectively rebooting him.
Unbeknownst to them, Bubble harbors insidious intentions to exploit its army of B-bots for nefarious purposes. In light of this, Barney proposes a daring solution: upgrading all B-bots to inherit Ron's unique imperfections, thereby distributing his distinctive qualities throughout the community. Although this would mean sacrificing Ron’s individuality, Barney reluctantly embraces this outcome, knowing it would ultimately foster joy and companionship amongst others. As events unfold, Marc seizes a chance for vengeance against Andrew by covertly recording him confessing to manipulating B-bot technology for his own benefit.
Fast-forward three months, and an intriguing trend has emerged: every B-bot in Nonsuch is malfunctioning, yet their owners revel in the quirky personalities that have surfaced. Now welcomed back at school, Barney has parted ways with his own B-bot but has blossomed into a more sociable person, reconnecting with old friends. As they share laughter during recess, a colossal Bubble tower looms over their community, displaying Ron's face on its digital screen, suggesting that maybe, just maybe, Ron is still out there.
