Roomba Inventor Now Wants You to Own an AI Robot Pet
Key takeaways
- The former i Robot CEO and brains behind the Roomba is back with a new robotic concept, but it's not a household appliance.
- As reported earlier this week by The Verge, the AI robot companions known as Familiars were unveiled at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference.
- The company's website describes Familiars as an ideal companion for those who want a pet but can't own one.
The former i Robot CEO and brains behind the Roomba is back with a new robotic concept, but it's not a household appliance. Colin Angle, now CEO and co-founder of Familiar Machines & Magic, has unveiled his next venture: AI robot pets.
As reported earlier this week by The Verge, the AI robot companions known as Familiars were unveiled at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference. A Familiar resembles a stuffed toy with a microphone, vision and audio system. It has a plush coat and stands on four legs, and it is intended for social interaction and companionship -- similar to having a real-life pet.
The company's website describes Familiars as an ideal companion for those who want a pet but can't own one. The robots are meant to be nonjudgmental listeners, engage kids in play and respond with affection (such as nuzzling and tail wagging) based on body language, facial expressions and tone of voice.