We are getting closer to realizing the old dream of a robotic servant who takes on the most tedious household tasks. The technological concept that permeates any innovation intended for consumption is artificial intelligence. If there was a sector that I would place in a new stadium, it is that of robotic assistants, whether physical or virtual. At the Consumer Electronic Show (CES), the first major technology fair of the year held in Las Vegas, automata have been the main protagonists.
One of the most impressive samples is that of the Norwegian company 1X Technologies, which already had an operational robot, Eve, an android with wheels and very robotic hands, but in the bedroom Neo, a bipedal humanoid, is about to arrive “very soon.” with very human shapes and movements. He achieves this from concepts such as the development of motors that imitate the functioning of muscles instead of the use of gears. It’s still in development, but the company says it combines “human-like bodies with the ‘minds’ of advanced language and autonomous movement models, so you can speak to them naturally and they do what you ask.”
Another of the robots that has triumphed in the Nevada event does not look like a human, but it does achieve similar results. iYU is a robotic arm from the French company Capsix that does back massages. It is not intended, according to its creators, to replace human masseuses, but rather to free them from some of the most repetitive massages and be able to dedicate themselves to the most specialized ones.
A peculiar appearance, as if escaped from a fairy tale, is that of the robot Mirokai from Enchanted Tools. Although it may seem like it has a recreational use, it is designed for medical environments, where it is dedicated to a tedious task that takes up precious time of healthcare workers: transporting equipment and medications.
The two major Korean technology companies, Samsung and LG, have also joined the trend of home assistants powered by AI. Samsung’s is a sphere, somewhat smaller than a soccer ball, called Ballie and serves as a control center for home automation devices, pet care and a projector.
The one from LG also aims to take care of pets, but it has a different look. With a futuristic aesthetic from the 60s, it uses artificial intelligence to maintain conversations. It has a screen on which it shows emotions. It adapts to the mood it perceives in the user. It acts as a home security guard and also controls connected devices, such as air conditioning.
Looking like a friendly doll, the Moxie robot is designed to be a companion for children and teach them social skills that help them, such as breathing exercises to control anxiety, release anger or improve concentration.
At a show like CES, the amount of flashy things – that no one remembers the following year – is inexhaustible, although there are some worth mentioning beyond robots. One of them is a small square-shaped device with a striking orange color. It is called r1 and has been created by the Rabbit company to replace the mobile phone. It works through spoken commands that make it interact with apps like the ones we have on our mobile, but without the need for it. On the first day after the presentation, 10,000 units were sold.
Another notable presentation was that of the BMind mirror from the Baracoda company. It is a bathroom mirror with a small lower screen that informs about the weather while its camera analyzes the user’s mood. Based on the diagnosis he makes, he creates phototherapy sessions, guided meditations and even says, to encourage encouragement, that he is in front of a beautiful person. Yes, as they called the witch in Snow White, but without going overboard.
Beyond the devices that attract attention in multiple ways, CES is the starting point for many of the things that we will see in the markets throughout 2024. One of its most notable aspects is that of television screens . Among the most spectacular things about the Las Vegas event, Samsung has presented a transparent OLED screen and LG has also presented a translucent television. It may take a while to see it in homes, but they already exist.
