It was an fascinating yr for robots at CES 2025. Whereas we had hoped the AI growth would convey a brand new wave of helpful robots to the present, it appears that evidently many robotics firms are nonetheless determining precisely easy methods to greatest use AI.
What we discovered as a substitute was a mixture of cute robotic companions, unusual ideas and one, barely terrifying humanoid. We visited loads of robots at CES and, for higher or worse, some actually left an impression on us. These are those that stood out probably the most.
TCL Ai Me
Of all of the surprisingly cute robots we noticed at CES, TCL’s Ai Me (pronounced “Amy”) was one of many cutest. The idea was on show at TCL’s sales space delighting and bewildering everybody who walked by. With a voice and eyes that should sound like an precise human youngster, TCL appears to be pitching this as an emotional assist/companion robotic for youths. On the sales space, Ai Me wasn’t doing a lot moreover transferring round in its wheeled, egg-shaped base, however the firm says that the AI-powered robotic might be used to regulate good house gadgets or file vlogs, because of built-cameras and AI capabilities.
For now, it’s unclear if TCL truly plans to promote this factor, however the firm appeared to have put fairly a little bit of effort into its CES demo. Along with the one slowly wheeling round a mock-up lounge, TCL confirmed off a lineup of various outfits, together with fuzzy bunny fits and a denim vest, for Ai Me. -Karissa Bell
Ropet
As we walked over to the Ropet sales space, an individual was waving a plastic hotdog in entrance of the little robotic and small cartoon hotdogs flashed throughout its eyes in response. I used to be just about bought at that second, nevertheless it turned out to have another fairly fascinating issues happening too. Ropet responds to voice, contact and gestures, and has its personal cute little emotional reactions. It’s conversational in order for you it to be, with ChatGPT integration. Largely it’s simply cute. -Cheyenne MacDonald
Mirumi
Mirumi is a kind of CES oddities that makes you concurrently go, “What the hell is that this?” and, “Omg I like this.” It’s small, fluffy and has no different goal than to make you smile by wanting round and gazing you want an harmless child. I instantly felt the necessity to defend it with my life. — CM
Romi
Romi is a conversational robotic that matches within the palm of your hand and is right here for you if you wish to chat, vent or simply hang around. The most recent mannequin of the robotic turned up at Unveiled, and we couldn’t assist however be charmed by its cute facial expressions. It matches properly in your arms, so you possibly can carry it round the home with you whilst you stroll round complaining about your workday. -CM
Miroki
Miroki was at CES final yr, however the Enchanted Instruments group was again displaying off the most recent model and a few new expertise, together with LLM integration. In the event you had been in a position to battle by way of the gang surrounding it to rise up shut, you will have seen it rolling round waving at individuals, blinking its huge cartoon eyes and flicking its ears like a deer. Undecided on whether or not it’s cute or just a little unnerving. -CM
Scorpion
Unsure which had an even bigger presence at #CES2025, robots or "APT." pic.twitter.com/NLZWey94dI
— Engadget (@engadget) January 10, 2025
Scorpion is an AI bartender from Richtech Robotics that sadly wasn’t slinging drinks after we noticed it (or scuttling round, apparently it doesn’t try this), however did carry out a synchronized dance to “Apt.” with the corporate’s Adam bot. Come for the arthropodal robotic, keep for the Ok-pop. -CM
Unitree G1 and "Robotic Canine"
Of all of the robots we noticed at CES 2025, Unitree’s take the prize for many terrifying. The corporate was displaying off its new quadruped “robotic canine” and humanoid G1 robots. The quadruped, which is basically their tackle Boston Dynamic’s Spot robotic, confirmed off to onlookers by operating across the sales space, climbing stairs and sitting on its “hind legs.”
Nevertheless it was the G1 that proved to be the robotic we would have liked to fret about. I used to be taking pictures of the roughly 4-foot tall humanoid when it out of the blue ran at me full-speed. I used to be solely a foot or so in entrance of it on the time as a result of crowd within the sales space, so the roughly 60-pound G1 slammed immediately into my physique at an all out run. The encompassing crowd meant I used to be primarily pinned in place for just a few seconds whereas the robotic continued to try to run by way of me till its operator was in a position to regain management. Thankfully, this was a case of consumer error and never the start of a robotic rebellion. The individual holding the gamepad-like controller for the robotic had mistakenly mashed the joystick, sending it immediately into my physique. A minimum of I can now say I do know what it feels wish to be physique slammed by a robotic. -KB
Mi-Mo
One of many extra uncommon robots we noticed at CES, Mi-Mo is a six-legged desk with a lamp on high. We didn’t see Mi-Mo do a lot moreover shimmy across the present flooring and “wave,” however there are some actually fascinating concepts behind the AI-powered robotic. It runs on a number of giant language fashions and "thinks and acts" primarily based on its surroundings. Its creators say it may assist with childcare and eldercare duties. Mi-Mo will likely be accessible to builders and researchers as a dev package later this yr. -KB
Reachy 2
Pollen Robotics was right here at CES displaying off Reachy 2, it’s newest machine that’ll value you $75,000 if in case you have that kind of money laying round. It’s an cute open-source machine with a human pilot that, its makers say, is good for tele-operation and knowledge acquisition. I simply suppose it’s cute, particularly when it waves at you. -Daniel Cooper
Extra reporting by Daniel Cooper.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/house/smart-home/the-robots-we-saw-at-ces-2025-the-good-the-bad-and-the-completely-unhinged-174529774.html?src=rss