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The creator of Roomba is back with a furry robot companion
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◎ Multiple-sources
Colin Angle revealed his latest creation this week: a dog-sized robot ‘Familiar’ designed for human connection, not chores.
Key facts
- The first Roomba was a hit because it cost under $200 and vacuumed the floor
- The original name for iRobot, founded in 1990, was Artificial Creatures Inc. But back then, the tech to create artificial life didn’t exist
- Angle points out that there are many reasons people can’t have pets, sharing a statistic that claims pet ownership declines to 9 percent after age 68, when it can become harder for someone to care
- After iRobot’s failed sale to Amazon, Angle stepped down as CEO in 2024
Summary
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. The first robot from Angle’s new company, Familiar Machines & Magic, is a dog-sized robotic pet that resembles a cross between a bear, a barn owl, and a golden retriever. This content isn't visible due to your cookie preferences. The Familiar is a “physically embodied AI system” that will use generative AI, via an on-device model, to engage with its owner with the intent of forming an emotional connection and develop “a distinct personality,” Angle told me in an interview.