THE ROOMBA GUY'S SECOND ACT: A ROBOT YOU'LL WANT TO SNUGGLE

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

Familiar Machines & Magic, a startup headed by Colin Angle, the former CEO of the company that invented the Roomba, has unveiled a robot designed by former Disney Imagineers to be cute and appealing. The Familiar is an emotionally intelligent robot trained to respond appropriately to tone of voice, body language, and overall vibe. The company will market the robot to people who want to monitor their loved ones, and it is also keen to sell Familiars to people who would like to support their own well-being. The robot is still in an early prototype phase, so there is no information on pricing or availability.