It was an fascinating 12 months for robots at CES 2025. Whereas we had hoped the AI increase would convey a brand new wave of helpful robots to the present, it appears that evidently many robotics firms are nonetheless determining precisely the best way to greatest use AI.
What we discovered as a substitute was a mixture of lovable robotic companions, unusual ideas and one, barely terrifying humanoid. We visited a variety 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 lovable 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 little one, 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 apart from shifting round in its wheeled, egg-shaped base, however the firm says that the AI-powered robotic could possibly be used to manage sensible dwelling units or document vlogs, because of built-cameras and AI capabilities.
For now, it’s unclear if TCL really 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 occurring too. Ropet responds to voice, contact and gestures, and has its personal cute little emotional reactions. It’s conversational if you need it to be, with ChatGPT integration. Principally it’s simply lovable. -Cheyenne MacDonald
Mirumi
Mirumi is a type of CES oddities that makes you concurrently go, “What the hell is this?” and, “Omg I love this.” It’s small, fluffy and has no different objective than to make you smile by wanting round and observing you want an harmless child. I instantly felt the necessity to shield 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 fingers, so you possibly can carry it round the home with you when you stroll round complaining about your workday. -CM
Miroki
Miroki was at CES final 12 months, however the Enchanted Instruments crew was again exhibiting off the newest model and a few new abilities, together with LLM integration. In the event you have been capable of battle via the gang surrounding it to rise up shut, you’ll have seen it rolling round waving at folks, blinking its huge cartoon eyes and flicking its ears like a deer. Undecided on whether or not it’s cute or somewhat unnerving. -CM
Scorpion
Undecided which had a much 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 Okay-pop. -CM
Unitree G1 and "Robot Dog"
Of all of the robots we noticed at CES 2025, Unitree’s take the prize for many terrifying. The corporate was exhibiting off its new quadruped “robot dog” and humanoid G1 robots. The quadruped, which is basically their tackle Boston Dynamic’s Spot robotic, confirmed off to onlookers by working across the sales space, climbing stairs and sitting on its “hind legs.”
But it surely was the G1 that proved to be the robotic we would have liked to fret about. I used to be taking images of the roughly 4-foot tall humanoid when it all of a sudden ran at me full-speed. I used to be solely a foot or so in entrance of it on the time because of the crowd within the sales space, so the roughly 60-pound G1 slammed instantly into my physique at an all out run. The encompassing crowd meant I used to be basically pinned in place for a couple of seconds whereas the robotic continued to try to run via me till its operator was capable of regain management. Thankfully, this was a case of consumer error and never the start of a robotic rebellion. The particular person holding the gamepad-like controller for the robotic had mistakenly mashed the joystick, sending it instantly into my physique. No less than 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 prime. We didn’t see Mi-Mo do a lot apart from 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 massive language fashions and "thinks and acts" based mostly on its atmosphere. Its creators say it might assist with childcare and eldercare duties. Mi-Mo shall be out there to builders and researchers as a dev package later this 12 months. -KB
Reachy 2
Pollen Robotics was right here at CES exhibiting off Reachy 2, it’s newest machine that’ll price you $75,000 when you have that kind of money laying round. It’s an lovable open-source machine with a human pilot that, its makers say, is good for tele-operation and knowledge acquisition. I simply assume it’s cute, particularly when it waves at you. -Daniel Cooper
Further reporting by Daniel Cooper.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dwelling/smart-home/the-robots-we-saw-at-ces-2025-the-good-the-bad-and-the-completely-unhinged-174529774.html?src=rss
