The creator of the Roomba, the robot that quietly took over floor cleaning in millions of homes, is now working on something very different. This time, it’s not about chores or convenience, but about companionship and cuddles.
Colin Angle, who founded the Roomba robot cleaners, is now working on a new venture called Familiar Machines & Magic. This company is building a soft, furry robot designed to feel less like a gadget and more like a comfort figure in your home. You can think of it as a pet, but it is all AI. It is aimed at people who want comfort, interaction, and a bit of emotional connection, without taking full responsibility of a living, breathing organism.
Called the “Familiar”, the robot is dog-size and walks on four legs but doesn’t quite resemble any one animal. In videos shared by the company, the furry robot appears as a mix of everything – owl-like face, bear-like paws, and a deer-like body, all wrapped in fluff. And unlike the Roomba, it’s not here to clean up after you.
It won’t vacuum, fetch, or do chores. Instead, it sits beside you, nudges you when you’ve been glued to your phone for too long, and quietly gives you company. In demo clips that have been doing the rounds online, it can be seen curling up next to children, walking alongside older users, and even lingering nearby during yoga sessions like a calm, observant pet.
According to the company, the furry robot is powered by on-device AI that helps it learn routines, remember behaviour, and gradually develop something that feels like a personality. It uses cameras, microphones, and a touch-sensitive outer layer to interact, while avoiding constant cloud connectivity, so interactions stay private and happen in real time. Angle describes it as “social reasoning”, not just smart automation.
Interestingly, it doesn’t talk. There’s no chatbot-style conversation here. Instead, it communicates through movement, expressions, and soft, non-verbal sounds, think gentle nudges or purring-like responses. According to the company, the idea is to make it feel like a creature you bond with, rather than a machine you command.
With this fluffy AI robot, Colin believes the future of robotics isn’t just about function or form—it’s about emotional connection. The Familiar is being positioned as a companion for children, a source of support for older adults, and even a way to help people step away from screens and feel a little less alone.
The first version, internally called “Ami”, isn’t expected before next year, and pricing is still under wraps, though it’s expected to be comparable to owning a pet. Whether people are ready to bring an AI companion into their homes remains to be seen.
