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Wake me up before they go-go
THE SET-UP: The robots are coming.
That’s one of the takeaways from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show happening right now in Las Vegas.
So far, though, we’re not talking about Replicants, Skynet’s T-800 or even Rosey the Robot … although one of the robot vacuums featured this year has legs. Roborock launched its Saros Rover, a Roomba-like vacuum with legs it uses to not only climb stairs, but it can clean those stairs on its way up (or down). Basically, it’s a slightly better mousetrap that’s a bit more effective, but it is unlikely to put anyone out of work.
CLOiD, on the other hand, takes a step in that direction.
Made by South Korea consumer electronics titan LG, the company’s “newest humanoid robot son” comes with Rosey-esque aspirations:
During LG's CES press conference, the domestic helper was shown moving through simulated home environments, learning from its owners' lifestyle to manage the household on their behalf. Examples included checking the fridge for ingredients while communicating with an owner through an app, and folding laundry. The company is also showcasing such tasks as bringing milk from the refrigerator or preparing a freshly baked croissant for breakfast, as well as loading and starting the washing machine and stacking garments straight from the dryer.
Unlike the Saros Rover, CLOiD doesn’t have legs. Like the Jetsons’ robotic housekeeper, it travels via a wheeled base guided by “autonomous navigation systems”:
Below the head is the torso, which features two articulated arms with seven degrees of freedom to match the mobility of a human arm. Each hand includes five independently actuated fingers that give it precise gripping and manipulation capability, essential for handling household objects such as glasses, utensils, or clothing. Below the head is the torso, which features two articulated arms with seven degrees of freedom to match the mobility of a human arm. Each hand includes five independently actuated fingers that give it precise gripping and manipulation capability, essential for handling household objects such as glasses, utensils, or clothing.
Although a housekeeping robot that can do the laundry and the dishes seems harmless enough, a team of researchers from King's College London, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Birmingham are not convinced:
The problem is not so much the hardware, but the AI that runs it. The team subjected home robots to tests in real-life scenarios such as helping in the kitchen or assisting elderly people. The results of the study showed that all AI models exhibited problematic behaviors: they discriminated against vulnerable groups, failed to comply with basic safety controls, and not only approved but rated as "acceptable" or "feasible" the execution of commands with risk of causing serious harm to people.
“All AI models exhibited problematic behaviors” is a bit of a red flag, particularly since the race is on to merge AI tech with humanoid robots. Elon Musk’s dream is to populate the world with his humanoid Optimus robots, but a collaboration between Boston Dynamics and Google Gemini Robotics is poised to beat Musk to the factory floor.
The companies plan to test Gemini-powered Atlas robots at auto factories belonging to Hyundai, Boston Dynamics’ parent company, in the coming months. The move is an early look at a future where humanoids are able to quickly master a wide range of tasks.
You’ve probably already seen what Boston Dynamics’ robots can do in one of the many viral videos bouncing around the ‘net:
Atlas can already dance and perform acrobatics but, like other humanoids, lacks the intelligence needed to understand its environment, make complex decisions, and manipulate unfamiliar objects with its hands. That could start to change with the addition of an advanced AI model like Gemini, though it’s unclear how robots will match the adaptability and subtlety of human manual dexterity.
If Google’s AI allows Atlas to mimic “the adaptability and subtlety of human manual dexterity,” it is likely to be an effective worker in a number of environments. On the other hand, a dexterous robot that can run, jump and perform acrobatics could take an ominous turn if its AI mind starts hallucinating. It’s one thing to have AI spitting out delusional text to a smartphone. It’s another thing entirely when it can walk up to you, mistake you for a threat and do something about it. Carolina Parada, senior director of robotics at Google DeepMind, assured Wired that…
…on top of the safety controls already built into Boston Dynamics’ systems, Gemini will perform an artificial kind of reasoning in order to preempt and prevent potentially dangerous behavior.
Somehow, Google’s assurance that “an artificial kind of reasoning” will kick-in before anything really bad happens is not that reassuring. Even less reassuring is the idea of a fully autonomous robot so small it is barely visible without magnification. Smaller than a grain of salt, these microscopic robots ”can think, swim, and survive for months” in, for example, a human’s bloodstream. Per Science Daily:
These microscopic machines can swim through liquid, sense their surroundings, respond on their own, operate for months at a time, and cost about one penny each to produce.
…and…
Powered entirely by light, the robots contain microscopic computers that allow them to follow programmed paths, detect local temperature changes, and adjust their movement in response.
…and…
By adjusting this electrical field, the robots can change direction, follow complex paths, and even coordinate their movement in groups that resemble schools of fish. They can reach speeds of up to one body length per second. Because this swimming method uses electrodes with no moving parts, the robots are remarkably durable.
No, this was not announced at the Consumer Electronics Show. And it could have some groundbreaking medical uses. It could also be an incredible weapon. Imagine microscopic swarms entering your lungs, your digestive tract, your heart or your brain on a mission to disrupt or to kill. If science fiction is a guide, we’d better start thinking about managing this technology before it is used to manage us. - jp
CES 2026: These Robots and AI Tools Dominated the Show Floor
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/ces-2026-these-robots-and-ai-tools-dominated-the-show-floor/
Forget robot vacuums — Ecovacs’ most exciting product at CES 2026 was its upcoming AI-powered pet companion
https://www.tomsguide.com/home/smart-home/forget-robot-vacuums-ecovacs-most-exciting-product-at-ces-2026-was-its-upcoming-ai-powered-pet-companion
CES 2026: AI Companion Robots Combat Loneliness with Emotional Support
https://www.webpronews.com/ces-2026-ai-companion-robots-combat-loneliness-with-emotional-support/
AI-powered robotic bartender mixes custom cocktails, remembers orders at CES 2026
https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/ai-robotic-bartender-hospitality-automation
‘Having robots will create jobs’: Nvidia CEO challenges fears over automation
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/technology/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-robots-ai-immigrants-talk-ces-2026-lr4fdy4h
Qualcomm CEO Calls Robotics the Next AI Wave at CES 2026
https://blockonomi.com/qualcomm-ceo-calls-robotics-the-next-ai-wave-at-ces-2026/