iRobot Founder Colin Angle Reveals Dog-Sized Companion Robot at WSJ Conference

Colin Angle, known for creating the Roomba and helping place 50 million household robots in homes, revealed his latest invention this week: a dog-sized robot named Familiar. The device, the first from his new company Familiar Machines & Magic, appeared at the WSJ Future of Everything conference.

The Verge reported that Angle demoed two units on stage, showing them moving around, walking, interacting with people, and making meowing and purring noises, though the units were partially operator-controlled.

The quadruped robot resembles a cross between a bear, a barn owl, and a golden retriever, with an expressive face featuring movable eyebrows, ears, and eyes. It can move independently on all fours around a home and walk at a slow human pace, powered by 23 degrees of freedom that allow movement in its head, neck, ears, eyes, and eyebrows.

However, it cannot grip things or climb stairs, and it makes nonverbal sounds like meowing and purring rather than speaking.

Angle described the Familiar as a physically embodied AI system that uses generative AI through an on-device model to engage with owners, forming emotional connections and developing a distinct personality. The robot runs on Nvidia’s Jetson Orin chip, with an onboard edge AI stack powered by a custom small multimodal model optimized for social reasoning, combining vision, audio, language, and memory.

It does not require an internet connection, though it can be connected, and it does not stream audio or video to the cloud.

'The next era of robotics is not just about dexterity or humanoid form — it’s about machines that can build and sustain human connection,' Angle stated. He emphasized that the robot is intended to address initial use cases focused on families with young children, companionship for the elderly, and the global loneliness epidemic.

Angle noted that pet ownership declines to just 9 percent after age 68, highlighting potential benefits for those unable to care for real animals.

Internally codenamed Ami, the first Familiar will not be available for purchase until next year at the earliest. Angle said it will cost around the same as pet ownership and will be fully autonomous by launch time. The Verge reported that the company calls the robot a 'Familiar,' evoking folklore around supernatural companions, and Angle views it as fulfilling his long-term vision of creating artificial life.

But stepped down as CEO in 2024 after the company's sale to Amazon failed. His new venture, Familiar Machines & Magic, includes cofounders Ira Renfrew and Chris Jones, both iRobot veterans. The team comprises roboticists and engineers from Disney, MIT, Boston Dynamics, Amazon, Bose, and Sonos.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a senior reviewer with over twenty years of experience covering smart home, IoT, and connected tech, published the article on the Familiar on May 4, 2026, at 4:51 PM UTC. She has previously written for Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, BBC, and US News.

The Verge reported Angle's statement that his three-decade career has led to this moment, as technology now allows for responsible creation of such companions.

Angle is on the board of Intuition Robotics, which produces a companion robot for the elderly. He stressed that the Familiar is not a toy but a creature meant for sustained engagement, capable of learning household routines and encouraging healthier activities.

The two units at the WSJ conference demonstrated nonverbal interactions, underscoring the design choice to avoid verbal communication and factual advice.

In the demo video, the robot interacted in scenarios like encouraging a boy to put down his tablet, nudging a man to stop scrolling and go to bed, accompanying an elderly woman on a walk, and joining a younger woman in yoga. Angle said the device has a luxurious touch-sensitive coat and is designed to pass the 'plate of glass' test by offering physical interactions that screens cannot.

He added that while not waterproof, it aims to promote activities that reduce isolation.

The Verge reported Angle's belief that the Familiar could serve in high human connection roles such as companionship, entertainment, hospitality, smart home support, eldercare, and parental assistance. By focusing on nonverbal expression and body language, aided by a camera-based vision system and microphone array, the robot seeks to foster long-term bonds.

Angle contrasted it with earlier home robots that failed due to lack of engagement, aiming to avoid that fate through adaptive AI.

Angle told the WSJ audience that the demo units, while partially controlled, are on their way to a product already in factories. He reiterated that success means creating a robot people want in their world, not just a novelty. The company's deliberate choice of an unidentifiable creature form avoids preconceived expectations about abilities, and its four-legged stability addresses concerns about falls or injuries.