A new kind of robot is taking shape, and it is not built for factories. It is designed for people. At the Future of Everything conference, robotics pioneer Colin Angle unveiled a quadruped machine that focuses on interaction and companionship.
The system, called a “Familiar,” represents a shift in how engineers approach physical AI. Angle, best known for cofounding iRobot and launching the Roomba, now leads Familiar Machines & Magic. The company has operated in stealth until now.
Built for human interaction
The first Familiar is a four-legged robot designed to engage with people. It does not rely on a screen. Instead, it uses motion, sound, and touch. The machine features 23 degrees of freedom for expressive movement.
Engineers added a touch-sensitive outer layer, along with cameras and microphones. These systems help the robot interpret its surroundings and respond naturally. Its onboard AI runs locally, using a compact multimodal model.
This setup combines vision, audio, language, and memory in real time. The goal is to create behavior that evolves through repeated interaction. Angle said, “The next era of robotics is not just about dexterity or humanoid form – it’s about machines that can build and sustain human connection.” He added, “Today, we’re emerging from stealth to share our vision for systems that move beyond task execution and become a natural part of daily life.”
Beyond factory robots
Most investment in physical AI targets industrial use. Companies focus on robots that lift, sort, or transport goods. That market continues to grow rapidly. Angle’s team sees a different opportunity. They aim to build machines that people interact with daily. That requires a different design philosophy.
Consumer-facing robots must understand context and emotion. They must respond in ways that feel intuitive. According to the company, physical presence plays a key role in this. FM&M argues that embodied systems can outperform screen-based AI in emotional tasks. People respond more strongly to physical agents than to chatbots.
The team behind the project brings experience from major tech and robotics groups. Their background includes work at Disney Research, MIT, Amazon, and Boston Dynamics.
Familiar roads ahead
Angle positioned the new robot as a step beyond earlier consumer machines. “iRobot proved that robots could deliver value at scale,” he said. “But they were still task machines.”
“My goal has always been to create systems that understand context, remember interactions, and behave with consistency over time. That’s what we’re doing at Familiar Machines & Magic.”
Unlike humanoid robots, the Familiar avoids human-like form. Engineers chose a quadruped design to improve approachability and movement. The focus remains on presence and interaction.
The company has not announced a release timeline. It also has not detailed specific use cases. Today’s reveal marks a technology preview, not a product launch.
Still, the direction is clear. FM&M wants to scale robots that people choose to live with. The company emphasizes on-device AI to reduce latency and protect privacy.
The Familiar suggests a shift in robotics. Instead of machines that complete tasks, engineers are building systems that build relationships.