In case you missed it, the robots are here.
No, not the apocalyptic hordes of artificially intelligent machines that some believe are destined to enslave or eradicate us (hello, Boston Dynamics!), but the everyday devices and companions that are rapidly becoming commonplace. After decades of lofty sci-fi-inspired promises, robots like iRobot's Roomba vacuums and the many iterations of the Sony Aibo robodog are slowly carving out their places in our domestic lives. Even Amazon's Alexa is arguably a disembodied robot.
SEE ALSO:This tiny robotic spider might one day perform surgeries inside your bodyA new entry into the field is Anki's Vector. Vector is a small tabletop robot with big features. First and foremost, unlike other "robots" like those from Sphero or even WowWee, Vector doesn't need a smartphone to control it. It's fully autonomous and loaded with sensors, enabling it to interact with and learn from its environment from the get-go.
Vector is another milestone for Anki, a company that's had one of the most interesting stories in tech. Unknown to the world before its splash launch at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2013, the robotics company has come out with several products, including intelligent toy race cars and a previous, more limited robot, Cozmo.
Where does the robustly funded company go next? And when will it move its robotics business into something more capable (i.e. not a toy). Anki CEO Boris Sofman dropped by Mashable's MashTalk podcast this week to give us the full story of his young company, why it's so focused on the "personality" of its robots, and what he sees in the future for domestic robots and AI.
You can subscribe to MashTalk on iTunesor Google Play, and we'd appreciate it if you could leave a review. Feel free to hit us with questions and comments by tweeting to @mashtalkor attaching the #MashTalk hashtag. We welcome all feedback.
TopicsArtificial Intelligence
(责任编辑：時尚)
This company is hiring someone just to drink all day
This one chart shows the nightmare that is the Donald Trump presidency
Which version of 'Blade Runner' should you watch?
On the way to an asteroid, a spacecraft snapped this photo of EarthUber's $100M settlement over drivers as contractors may not be enoughAmazon's Echo made controlling music with your voice easy-peasy, but its sound quality could be a lo
...[详细]The BDSM underworld of the most disturbing 'World of Warcraft' sex dungeon
Unbeknownst to most, the popular online multiplayer game World of Warcraftisn't just a role-playing
...[详细]Here's what it's like when Bill Nye catches you Snapchatting in the elevator
Here's a fun scenario: you're with your best friends on the Las Vegas trip of your dreams, and you'r
...[详细]Extremely short iPhone X supply means you might not get one until 2018
It's gonna be really, really hard to get an iPhone X this holiday season.Several reports prior to th
...[详细]Australian football makes history with first LGBT Pride Game
The rainbow flag took over Melbourne's Etihad Stadium Saturday night in a powerful statement of acce
...[详细]Inquisitive koala somehow gets itself stuck on top of a rig
Koalas aren't usually the most active of animals.But they are good climbers, as South Australian fir
...[详细]This airline tried to improve a long international flight with live theater
Put down the in-flight magazine, Icelandair has invented a new way to stave off traveling boredom: l
...[详细]The future of obnoxiously loud autoplay videos is in doubt
Browsing the web is an integral part of most people's VROOM VROOM I'M A CAR COMMERCIAL AND NOW I'M I
...[详细]Pokémon Go is so big that it has its own VR porn parody now
Behind every great entertainment property there's a cheekily named porn parody. Super Hornio Bros. G
...[详细]Apple Watch Series 3 review: The smartest smartwatch yet
Let’s talk about the red dot.The hint of bright color on the Apple Watch Series 3 digital crow
...[详细]Pole vaulter claims his penis is not to blame
Data to track over a half of a million cars leaked out online
