AI Robot Pets Are Coming to Your Home

Artificial intelligence (AI) robot pets that learn your day and share emotions like a friend are coming soon. "Familiar," introduced by Colin Angle, the founder of iRobot, embodies this concept of an AI robot pet. "Familiar" was developed according to Colin Angle's vision for a new era of robotics, which focuses on robots building and maintaining connections with humans beyond mere mechanical performance.

Shaped like a four-legged animal, "Familiar" features a soft, touch-sensitive exterior and expresses emotions in an animal-like manner through its movements and reactions. The robot utilizes cameras, microphones, speakers, and onboard AI to detect and respond to users' facial expressions, voice tones, and body language in real-time.

The primary purpose of "Familiar" is to serve as an AI-based home robot that supports users by learning their daily lives. It emphasizes building a relationship with users through daily life support and emotional engagement, rather than performing simple tasks.