We’ve dreamt of it for decades: a robotic assistant that becomes more than just an appliance, and more like part of the family. Jibo ($500) promises to be exactly that. This white, 11-inch tall companion would look right at home alongside Wall-E’s EVE, with an HD LCD touchscreen “face”, a sleek, white ABS plastic, glass, and aluminum body, and a 3-axis motor system that allows for natural, emotion-stirring movement.
Thanks to two hi-res cameras, Jibo can recognize and track faces, and can even independently take photos and video, while 360º microphones and natural language processing let you talk to him from anywhere in the room. He can even connect with your phone to give you hands-free reminders and messages, while being so much more personal than a simple bop or buzz. Coming in 2015.