The former iRobot CEO and the brains behind the Roomba vacuum cleaner is back with a new robotic concept, but it is not a household appliance. Colin Angle, now CEO and co founder of Familiar Machines & Magic, has unveiled his next venture: AI robot pets. The AI robot companions known as Familiars were unveiled at a major 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.
What Is Familiar And Who Is It For
The company’s website describes Familiars as an ideal companion for those who want a pet but cannot 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. The company has stated that getting a Familiar has nothing to do with replacing pets. Pets and Familiars do completely different things, and households can benefit from one or both. Those who would benefit the most are people who would value an emotionally intelligent presence in the home and are not waiting for science fiction to show up.
How Familiars Work
These robots are meant to appear natural and emotionally intelligent, with their own personalities and the ability to learn and adapt to the environment and the habits of the people around them. Familiars are aware of your patterns and will encourage you to break bad habits, such as spending too much time on your phone. By design, a Familiar will avoid giving factual advice about things that it should not be giving factual advice about. Instead, it will communicate with you through nonverbal sounds and body language. The robot cannot lie by design.
Privacy And Data Security
As with any AI feature or device, privacy concerns arise. The company plans to keep your data private by avoiding cloud dependent AI systems. Instead, data remains on the device itself. The company states that it has clear data governance guardrails for its systems intended for daily use. This approach is different from many AI devices that send data to the cloud for processing, which can raise privacy and security concerns.
Price And Availability
The cost for Familiars has not been announced yet. They will be available next year. Those interested in reserving their own robotic pet can join a waitlist on the company’s website.
Other Robots In The News
This is not the first time sentient or human like robots have entered the conversation. Recently, humanoids for home use debuted at a major tech convention. Other companies have created robots for factory and warehouse use. There have also been demonstrations of humanoid robots in educational settings to promote the use of AI in classrooms.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Designed for people who want a pet but cannot own one due to allergies, apartment rules, or other reasons
- Nonjudgmental listener that engages in play and responds with affection
- Learns your habits and encourages you to break bad habits like phone overuse
- Data stays on the device, not on the cloud, for better privacy
- Communicates through nonverbal sounds and body language, not factual advice
- Created by the inventor of Roomba, a proven hardware innovator
Cons
- Price has not been announced yet
- Not available until next year
- May not replace the emotional connection of a real pet
- Privacy concerns still exist despite on device data processing
- Unknown how durable the plush coat and moving parts will be over time
- Requires charging or battery maintenance
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who created the Familiar AI robot pet?
Colin Angle, the former iRobot CEO and inventor of the Roomba, created Familiar through his new company Familiar Machines & Magic.
2. How much does Familiar cost?
The price has not been announced yet.
3. When will Familiar be available?
Familiar will be available next year. You can join the waitlist now.
4. Is Familiar meant to replace real pets?
No, the company says Familiar is not meant to replace pets. Pets and Familiars do different things, and households can benefit from one or both.
5. Does Familiar send my data to the cloud?
No, the company plans to keep your data private by avoiding cloud dependent AI systems. Data remains on the device.
6. Can Familiar give me advice?
Familiar communicates through nonverbal sounds and body language. By design, it avoids giving factual advice about things it should not give advice about.
7. What does Familiar look like?
Familiar resembles a stuffed toy with a plush coat. It stands on four legs and has a microphone, vision system, and audio system.
