Trending Now - Former Irobot CEO Debuts AI Pet Robot Designed for Emotional Connection
WHO:
ABC News - Colin Angle, the robotics pioneer and former CEO of iRobot, is the founder of Familiar Machines & Magic.
ABC News - Angle was the longtime CEO of iRobot, the maker of Roomba.
WHAT:
ABC News - Angle stated, “Not because people suddenly stop enjoying pets, but the fear and obligation of caring for them are such that people are very reluctant to get new pets at older ages.”
ABC News - Angle mentioned that the Familiar is designed to be “emotionally intelligent” and reacts to the owner's feelings.
ABC News - The Familiar is described as being the size of a bulldog with doe-like eyes and bear cub ears and paws.
ABC News - Angle stated, “The challenge is to make something that’s not a watch-me toy. This is about having something that you want to hug, you want to pet.”
ABC News - Angle mentioned that the robot is designed to be large enough or mobile enough to follow users to the kitchen or encourage them to take a walk.
ABC News - Angle aims to target retired individuals who may be reluctant to care for traditional pets due to the fear and obligation associated with them.
ABC News - Angle unveiled a four-legged prototype of an AI-powered pet robot called the Familiar.
ABC News - The Familiar is designed to follow users around the home and adapt to their daily habits.
ABC News - The robot will make emotive, animal-like sounds but will not talk.
ABC News - The Familiar has audio input “ears” and an AI system that can understand and learn from user interactions.
ABC News - Angle stated, “I couldn’t have done this six months ago,” indicating recent advancements in technology.
WHERE:
ABC News - Familiar Machines & Magic is based in Woburn, Massachusetts.
ABC News - The prototype was brought to New York for The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference.
WHEN:
ABC News - Angle stepped down as CEO and chairman of iRobot in 2024.
ABC News - Angle aims to start selling the Familiar, targeting retired people who may be interested in pet companionship.
WHY:
ABC News - Angle believes that the Familiar can provide emotional support for mental health, particularly in nursing homes.
ABC News - Angle believes the Familiar can provide emotional support, particularly in nursing homes or for mental health, as it is designed to be perceived as adorable rather than creepy.
ABC News - Angle believes the Familiar can provide emotional support, especially for older individuals who may be reluctant to care for traditional pets.
ABC News - The design aims to avoid preconceptions associated with traditional pets, as stated by Angle: “We chose a form factor that’s not a human, not a dog, not a cat.”
HOW:
ABC News - The Familiar's AI system can understand and learn from what users say to it, allowing it to adapt its behavior over time.
ABC News - The Familiar benefits from advances in generative AI sparked by chatbots like ChatGPT, allowing it to gradually adapt its behavior as it learns from interactions.
ABC News - The Familiar utilizes the latest artificial intelligence technology, benefiting from advances in generative AI.
ABC News - Angle has gathered a team of prominent robotics advisers, including Marc Raibert and Cynthia Breazeal, to assist in the development of the Familiar.
(UPDATED May 4, 2026 23:18 UTC)
ABC News reports that Angle highlighted the challenges older individuals face when considering new pets, noting that the fear and obligation of care often deter them. To address this, Angle introduced the Familiar, an emotionally intelligent companion designed to respond to its owner's feelings and provide emotional support, especially in nursing homes. The Familiar's advanced AI system learns from user interactions, allowing it to adapt its behavior over time for a more personalized experience.
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(UPDATED May 4, 2026 21:19 UTC)
A new robot called the Familiar, which is about the size of a bulldog and features doe-like eyes and bear cub ears and paws, is being developed to provide emotional support, especially for retired individuals who may hesitate to care for traditional pets. Designer Angle emphasizes that the goal is to create a companion that people will want to hug and pet, rather than just a toy, and the robot is designed to be mobile enough to follow users around or encourage them to take walks. Thanks to advances in generative AI, similar to those seen in chatbots like ChatGPT, the Familiar will learn and adapt its behavior based on interactions, making it a more engaging companion.
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(UPDATED May 4, 2026 19:23 UTC)
Colin Angle, the robotics pioneer and founder of Familiar Machines & Magic, has unveiled a four-legged prototype of an AI-powered pet robot called the Familiar, designed to follow users around the home and adapt to their daily habits. This innovative robot, which will make emotive, animal-like sounds but will not talk, features audio input “ears” and an AI system that learns from user interactions, with Angle noting that recent advancements in technology made this possible. Targeting older individuals who may seek companionship without the responsibilities of traditional pets, Angle aims to start selling the Familiar, which was showcased at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference in New York.