Colin Angle, co-founder and former CEO of iRobot, has launched a new robotics startup, Familiar Machines & Magic, focusing on health and wellness home robots that may resemble animals or “familiars.” The stealth-mode company includes former iRobot executives and has raised $15 million, seeking an additional $15 million.
Unlike iRobot’s practical devices like Roomba, the startup aims to blend personality and utility, potentially addressing loneliness with AI-powered “furry pets.” Advances in generative AI could enhance these robots’ human-like interactions, similar to projects like Sony’s Aibo or Intuition Robotics’ ElliQ. The exact direction of the venture remains under wraps.
Source: The Verge
