September 17, 2024, 8:23 am | Read time: 5 minutes
There was a lot to see at this year’s IFA 2024. TECHBOOK was there and spotted a promising little robot from LG – and it spotted us.
IFA 2024 is a very special edition of the internationally renowned radio trade fair. After all, it is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the organizers have come up with an extensive supporting program. However, the centerpiece is and remains the many exhibitors and their products. As I strolled through the halls, I was particularly taken with a robot from LG – for good reason.
Robot from LG is an Alexa competitor on wheels
The South Korean manufacturer is again very present at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Fair and has taken over an entire hall. And as befits a major tech company in the year 2024, almost everything here is focused on artificial intelligence – or as they themselves call it, “Affectionate Intelligence.”
Under this name, AI is set to become an integral part of everyday life, helping in the home in particular. This is why an entire product range is being presented under the guise of “Affectionate Home.” This also includes a small, self-driving robot from LG. According to a stand employee, it is still a prototype. And the current name also sounds very much like one: “Self-driving AI Home Hub” is written on the sign. We can only hope that a catchy name will be added when the product is ready for the market.
But what can the little one actually do? Basically, it is supposed to be an AI-supported assistant for your own four walls, similar to Amazon’s Alexa. Unlike the mail-order giant’s smart speakers and its software, LG’s development is very mobile and maneuverable thanks to its two wheels. It can follow you wherever you go. Moreover, as the following video shows, the robot can also be called on command:
AI for better human-machine communication
As an employee explained to me, the “Self-driving AI Home Hub” is equipped with ChatGPT so it can access information and talk to its owners. At IFA, the prototype was able to answer questions about the weather forecast, restaurant recommendations, and trade fair opening times, among other things.
As a helper within its own four walls, the robot should also be able to perceive and assess “situations, conditions and surroundings” and take action as required. This includes, for example, temperature and humidity.
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LG robot should be able to recognize emotions
Incidentally, the small device has a display on which two squiggles are shown as eyes during normal operation. Apparently, it also has pressure sensors that can recognize touch, which can trigger certain reactions:
Clearly visible in the clip above are not only the comic-like looking little heart eyes, but also the matching embarrassed “body language”. Not only can the “Self-driving AI Home Hub” communicate via loudspeaker, but it can also send non-verbal signals.
The device also has a camera. This enables the robot to recognize people directly. At the trade fair, the screen then switched to a view of the live recording of me. What is this good for? In theory, “Self-driving AI Home Hub” is supposed to be able to recognize human emotions. It does this by analyzing the face – and, in particular, the facial expression of the person in question. This should enable the robot to “communicate emotionally” based on the respective context.
However, this exciting function was not yet ready for use at IFA 2024 and, therefore, could not be demonstrated. We were unable to find out at the trade fair when LG plans to launch the robot on the market. We have already made a corresponding request.