US EditionRoomba pioneer aims to crack the household market again with an AI-powered pet robot
The prototype uses generative AI to respond to speech and is aimed at retirees, older adults and care settings, Angle said.
- On Monday, Colin Angle, former CEO of iRobot, unveiled his new AI-powered robot prototype, the Familiar, at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference in New York City.
- Angle, who led iRobot for 25 years, stated the Familiar represents a 30-year goal to create a lifelike machine, distinguishing it from earlier attempts like Sony's Aibo.
- The dog-sized robot utilizes generative AI to learn and adapt behavior without speaking, instead making emotive animal sounds; Angle insists the device is not designed as a security solution.
- Targeted at retired individuals who may struggle with pet obligations, Angle promised the robot will be accessible, stating, "If you can afford a pet, you can afford this."
- While sales timing remains uncertain, Angle has assembled prominent robotics advisers including Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert and University of Southern California professor Maja Matari to guide development.
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New social pet robot uses local AI to learn complex human behavior
A new kind of robot is taking shape, and it is not built for factories. It is designed for people. At the Future of Everything conference, robotics pioneer Colin Angle unveiled a quadruped machine that focuses on interaction and companionship. The system, called a “Familiar,” represents a shift in how engineers approach physical AI. Angle, best known for cofounding iRobot and launching the Roomba, now leads Familiar Machines & Magic. The company…
Roomba pioneer unveils AI robot pet that learns your habits
The robotics pioneer who helped unleash the Roomba vacuum is now betting that you might one day replace your beloved dog or cat with a plush robot that follows you around your home and adapts to your daily habits.
Roomba pioneer aims to crack the household market again with an AI-pow
The robotics pioneer who helped unleash the Roomba vacuum is now betting that you might one day replace your beloved dog or cat with a plush robot that follows you around your home and adapts to your daily habits. Colin Angle unveiled a four-legged prototype of that artificial pet, called the Familiar, on Monday. Imagine a creature the size of a bulldog with doe-like eyes and bear cub ears and paws, extending itself into a greeting stretch that …
Associated Press News
Roomba pioneer aims to crack the household market again with an AI-powered pet robot
The robotics pioneer who helped unleash the Roomba vacuum is now betting that you might one day replace your beloved dog or cat with a plush robot that follows you around your home and adapts to your daily habits.
The creator of Roomba is back with a furry robot companion
The first “Familiar” from Colin Angle’s new startup, Familiar Machines & Magic, is a robot that is designed to live in your home and interact autonomously with family members. | Image: Familiar Machines and Magic Colin Angle, the maker of the Roomba and the man who helped put 50 million household robots into people's homes, is back with a new robot. But this one is designed as a companion, not a cleaner. The first robot from Angle's new company…
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