This Furry Ai Companion May Replace Your Dog
Is it a dog? A sheep? A sleep-paralysis barn owl demon? Zoologists are stumped. But it’s definitely the latest generative AI robot for your home—a life-like, pet-sized companion from Colin Angle, the former CEO of iRobot and creator of the Roomba.
It’s from Angle’s new company, Familiar Machines & Magic, and it’s called a Familiar, the term for humans and animals that serve witches and vampires. And before you ask, no, the furry creature does not vacuum up scraps while being adorably ridden by your cat. So, what is the point of this product due out next year?
- Angle sees the Familiar—which is meant to be emotionally intelligent enough to respond to your mood and which doesn’t talk but can purr and meow—as a cure for loneliness. He told the Wall Street Journal, “I want to feel like the machine I’m building actually cares about me.” (Note: It doesn’t though.)
- He also thinks it can be useful in “high human connection roles,” like eldercare and parental support.
When asked by the WSJ about a growing reliance on technology to satisfy emotional needs, Angle said the Familiar’s inability to speak will soften that potentially dangerous connection.
The product is still in the prototype phase, and its price hasn’t been announced. But Angle said it will cost “around the same as pet ownership,” although he didn’t specify if that meant a purebred dog or a goldfish.—DL
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