Amazon develops a warehouse robot that workers can speak to
Amazon develops a warehouse robot that workers can speak to

Amazon has announced a new version of its fully autonomous warehouse robot, Proteus, that will interact using language instead of code. The expanded capabilities come as part of a growing pivot toward automation as the e-commerce giant replaces its human workers with robots. Amazon says the AI-powered upgrade means its human employees can assign the […]

Tech companies desperately want to film you doing chores
Tech companies desperately want to film you doing chores

This week, an AI training startup called Shift said it would clean New Yorkers’ homes for free. It has plans to expand into other cities as well, including London, and looking around my flat, I get the appeal. But there’s a catch. There’s always a catch. In exchange for the cleaning, Shift wants footage of […]

This AI startup will clean your home for free to train future robots
This AI startup will clean your home for free to train future robots

AI training startup Shift wants to clean your home for free. The catch – because, despite what its website says, there’s always a catch – is that it will record cleaners as they scrub, vacuum, dust, tidy, and wash, and use that footage to train robots. Shift announced the unusual offer on social media on […]

Orbot Robotics’ space robot has four arms, but its Goro physique has a purpose

In microgravity, legs do not do much. Orbit Robotics’ Helios replaces them with four arms built for movement and station work.

I review robot vacuums for a living, ask me anything!
I review robot vacuums for a living, ask me anything!

Welcome! I’m The Verge’s smart home reviewer, and I’m hosting an exclusive subscriber AMA today at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. I test a lot of connected gadgets for my job, but the dominant device in my home – by both number and square footage covered – is the robot vacuum. At any […]

These are the robot vacuum-mops I recommend for every type of home
These are the robot vacuum-mops I recommend for every type of home

Inviting a robot vacuum-mop into your life is a big decision. An autonomous floor-cleaning machine roaming your home is equal parts glorious and intrusive. But if it does its job well, you may forgive it for eating your rug tassel, running over your Apple Watch, smearing strawberry jam across your carpet, or chattering to you […]

Japan built robot wolves to thwart bear attack, and they’re flying off the shelves

Japan’s bizarre “Monster Wolf” robot deterrents are seeing soaring demand as the country struggles with record bear sightings and attacks.

Fluffy robot seals are being used for mental health care at a UK hospital

An NHS trust in Kent and Medway is piloting PARO, a therapeutic robot baby seal, to help patients with learning disabilities feel more comfortable during appointments.

Unitree will sell you a massive ‘transformable mecha’ for $650,000
Unitree will sell you a massive ‘transformable mecha’ for $650,000

Unitree is already one of the most recognizable names in the humanoid robot industry, but now it’s pursuing even nicher sci-fi tech: giant mech suits. The Chinese robotics company has debuted the GD01, which it describes as “the world’s first production-ready manned mecha,” and it can be yours for a paltry $650,000. What is it […]

These new Roombas are smaller and cheaper
These new Roombas are smaller and cheaper

iRobot has announced a new line of Roombas, a year after it debuted its first lidar-based robot vacuums. This week, it introduced eight robot vacuums that improve on its current lineup and feature lower prices, some up to £200 (about $270) cheaper. Key changes include higher suction power, a smaller overall size to better navigate […]