The individual who introduced a Roomba to every household aims to substitute your dog with a soft robot.

      Colin Angle, the robotics engineer and co-founder of iRobot, has introduced the Familiar, an AI pet robot with touch-sensitive fur that learns from your daily routines. This new four-legged, plush-covered AI companion is designed to follow you around your home and elicit emotional responses, particularly when it greets you at the door.

      Named the Familiar, this project is being developed by Familiar Machines & Magic, a startup that operated in secret in Woburn, Massachusetts, until Angle showcased a working model at the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything conference in New York on May 4. The robot is approximately the size of a bulldog and features large, expressive eyes, bear cub ears, and paws, all covered in touch-sensitive synthetic fur. While it emits animal-like sounds, it does not speak. Equipped with audio input, it listens and learns from interactions, and its AI is built on generative advancements, enabling it to adapt its behavior as it gets to know its surroundings.

      Angle explained to the Associated Press that they aimed for a design that steers clear of common associations with human or pet forms. He emphasized the importance of creating a robot that is more than just a novelty; it should be something that invites affection, offering happiness in return.

      The concept of an artificial companion is not entirely new. Sony released its robotic dog Aibo in the late 1990s and revived it in 2018. Cynthia Breazeal, a researcher from MIT and now a consultant for Familiar Machines, previously created social robots Kismet and Jibo, both aimed at introducing social interactions in machines. While Jibo gained a dedicated audience, it ultimately shut down, much like various other social robots that initially attracted interest but failed to maintain commercial success.

      Angle believes the Familiar stands apart because current technology has finally evolved to support the idea. He stated he couldn't have realized this concept just six months prior. The generative AI systems that are behind ChatGPT have equipped the Familiar with a level of contextual learning and adaptability that earlier companion robots lacked. The device is designed to be mobile enough to accompany you anywhere in the house and is large enough for physical interaction, shaping a unique personality influenced by its owner's behavior over time.

      This venture is closely linked to the history of iRobot. Angle co-founded the company in 1990, and over three decades, it sold over 50 million Roomba robots, becoming the first and only home robot for many consumers. In 2022, Amazon announced its intent to acquire iRobot for $1.7 billion, but after an 18-month regulatory investigation, Amazon withdrew the deal in January 2024 due to unavoidable obstacles. Following this, Amazon shifted its focus to acquiring smaller robotics firms, while iRobot, unable to compete with cheaper rivals, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2025, leading to the sale of its assets to a Chinese manufacturer. Angle resigned as CEO and chairman in 2024 and subsequently launched Familiar Machines.

      Angle described iRobot's bankruptcy as "avoidable" and critiqued the regulatory process for treating blocked mergers as "trophies." This experience seems to have influenced his new business model. While iRobot was strictly focused on hardware and cost competition, Familiar Machines is centered on a product whose value lies in its AI behavior rather than its production costs, making a personalized companion robot harder to replicate than a standard appliance.

      One target demographic for the Familiar is older adults who might be hesitant to take on the responsibility of a pet. Angle noted that while the enjoyment of pets persists, the fear and responsibility associated with pet care often deter older individuals from acquiring new pets. The market for companion robots aimed at elderly care is projected to grow significantly, reaching over $1.2 billion by 2035, fueled by aging populations in regions like Japan, Europe, and North America.

      Angle has recruited a team of advisers from prominent backgrounds in robotics, including Marc Raibert, the founder of Boston Dynamics. Many advisers share a skepticism toward the current trend of humanoid robots, which are seen as impressive but limited in utility. In contrast, Angle is intentionally focusing on creating a robot that seeks emotional connection rather than simulating usefulness.

      It may take some time before the Familiar becomes available for purchase, as Angle has not revealed details on pricing, production schedules, or funding. The name "Familiar" is derived from folklore, referring to the animal companions of witches or wizards, a term recognized from Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series. Angle was pleasantly surprised to find he could trademark it.

      The underlying belief is that the next breakthrough home robot will not be one designated for chores, but rather one that alleviates loneliness. While humanoid robots like those produced by 1X retail for $20,000 and focus on physical tasks, the Familiar aims for an emotional purpose. The challenge remains whether a cuddly robot with bear cub ears can succeed where past social robots like Aibo and