AI-powered robot pet dogs are the next Roomba's

Colin Angle, the man who brought us the Roomba, is now pushing the boundaries of robotic companionship with a plush, AI-powered pet robot.

Dubbed a "Familiar," the four-legged, stuffed-like device is designed to interact socially, learning and adapting to household routines while offering emotional support.

Angle's new venture, Familiar Machines & Magic, unveiled the AI robot pets at the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference. These devices feature a full sensory suite, equipped with microphones, vision, and audio systems, and are built to read body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

The Familiar responds with gestures like nuzzling and tail wagging and can even encourage healthier habits, such as reducing screen time. The company insists these robots aren't meant to replace real pets, but rather to serve those who can't own one.

Angle emphasized that the Familiar will not give factual advice, but will instead use nonverbal cues to communicate. Privacy is also a focus, as data stays on the device, avoiding any periodic uploading to the cloud.

Familiars are set to launch next year, with a waitlist already open. In a market increasingly crowded with AI companions and humanoid robots, Angle's latest creation offers a unique blend of emotional intelligence and functional design. Whether it becomes as popular as the Roomba remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the future will have robotic pets.

In other news, an analyst has predicted that gamers wanting to buy a new console and Grand Theft Auto 6 when it releases in November this year may face a $1,000 price tag.