Być może pamiętasz Colina Angle'a jako kreatora stojącego za stworzeniem Roomby, robota domowego, który trafił do 50 milionów domów na całym świecie. Teraz odchodzi od świata robotów sprzątających, aby wprowadzić na rynek robota-towarzysza: Familiar.
Familiar is the first product introduced by Colin’s new venture, Familiar Machines & Magic. Unlike his previous inventions, this one is not aimed at making your housework easier. It’s aimed at making your living experience richer. Familiar is an autonomous, dog-sized robotic pet. The look of this machine almost resembles a charming amalgamation of a bear, a barn owl, and a retrievable golden dog. With its expressive face complete with moveable eyebrows, ears, and eyes, it is all set to establish an authentic emotional connection with the family members it inhabits with.
The choice of name, “Familiar,” is not accidental. It is intended to stir up the folklore around the concept of otherworldly companions, beings, often taking the form of animals, aiding and protecting humans. From an AI platform perspective, Familiar is designed to take this folklore into the future, providing tangible companionship. This is not your run-of-the-mill robot; it’s a robotic family member that interacts with each family member, understanding their unique tendencies and preferences.
Familiar made its public debut at WSJ’s Future of Everything conference. For those who have seen this mechanical family member in action, the sight is both intriguing and endearing. Despite being a machine at heart, Familiar manages to display a level of liveness that is usually associated with living beings. It’s clear that Colin Angle’s journey to imbue robots with a soul of their own, continues unabated with his latest venture.
So far, robots have been seen majorly as tools to enhance productivity, to make our lives easier by taking over some of our responsibilities. However, Familiar offers an exciting departure from this pattern. Colin Angle is leveraging the advances in technology to make robots not just useful but also emotionally connected to us. It’s not just about tasks and chores anymore.
Chociaż tylko czas pokaże, jak skuteczny będzie Familiar w osiąganiu swojego celu, nie można zaprzeczyć, że Familiar jest daleki od znajomości, jeśli chodzi o świat fizycznej sztucznej inteligencji konsumentów. Ten robot dodaje kolejny rozdział do historii robotów, które stają się integralną częścią naszego codziennego życia.
Pełną historię można znaleźć na stronie The Verge.
