A pint-sized, two-wheeled robot by LG — to be unveiled at CES 2024 — is domestic, but only in a hands-off kind of way. It doesn't scrub floors or iron clothes. Instead, the smart home AI agent acts as a clever, context-aware go-between between humans and their smart homes.
When its people aren't home, the agent roams around, verifying windows haven't been left open, checking what the dog is up to and monitoring air quality. It has sensors for external data like temperature and humidity, a built-in camera, a microphone and speakers. If it spots something out of the ordinary, it can send a notification to the homeowner's phone.
All of which is powered by AI technology that learns and adapts to a household's specific needs and wants. And those wishes don't have to be verbalized. The agent can discern a person's emotions by analyzing their facial expressions and tone of voice and then act accordingly — for example, by adjusting lighting or serving up a song that's exactly right for the moment.
The new agent aligns with LG's vision of a 'Zero Labor Home,' where advanced technology streamlines household management. (Concerns about a resulting Zero Privacy Home are obviously warranted.) No word yet on pricing or availability.
