Colin Angle unveils Familiar Machines & Magic and emotionally intelligent AI Familiars
Updated
Updated · PR Newswire · May 4
Colin Angle unveils Familiar Machines & Magic and emotionally intelligent AI Familiars
13 articles · Updated · PR Newswire · May 4
At the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference, he revealed a first quadruped prototype with 23 degrees of freedom, touch-sensitive coating, vision, microphones and on-device multimodal AI.
The Boston-based startup said it is emerging from stealth rather than launching a product, with future applications and timelines still undisclosed.
Angle, former iRobot chief, says the company is targeting consumer physical AI built for trust and long-term interaction, drawing on a team with experience from iRobot, Amazon, Disney Research and Boston Dynamics.
After iRobot's recent collapse, can Colin Angle's AI pet succeed where so many others have failed?
As new laws regulate AI relationships, can a robot ethically cure loneliness without creating dependency?
Colin Angle’s Familiar Machines & Magic Unveils Emotionally Intelligent Home Robot with 23 Degrees of Freedom
Overview
After iRobot's 2024 sale to Amazon fell through, leading to bankruptcy and Colin Angle stepping down as CEO, he co-founded Familiar Machines & Magic. In May 2026, the company unveiled the 'Familiar,' a bear-like robot designed for emotional connection and companionship. Featuring advanced onboard AI, nonverbal communication, and fluid movement, the Familiar learns and adapts its personality through interaction, aiming to reduce loneliness and improve mental health. With plans for in-home testing in early 2027 and public release around 2028, the company differentiates itself by focusing on privacy and emotional intelligence, signaling a shift in home robotics from utility to meaningful companionship.