Kuri Home Robot: Insanely Cute with Some Serious Technology

With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 1080p cam and sturdy wheels designed to traverse any interior flooring, Kuri has a lot going for it. What I first noticed, though, were the eyes. For better or for worse, every inch of Kuri looks to be designed with the goal of making this robot helper adorable.

At first, I thought Kuri would be a bit like an Amazon Echo strapped to a set of wheels. In practice, Kuri doesn’t have nearly the functionality of the Echo — it’s more of a roving security cam with a bluetooth speaker than an always-listening, multi-purpose assistant. Kuri’s advantage is its personality. Its wordless chirps and nods remind me of a Pixar character, and Kuri was clearly designed to please the younger members of your family while it helps you patrol the halls and keep an eye on your home.

Kuri — created by the Bosch-backed startup Mayfield Robotics — will be able to use its camera to check on your pets when you’re away. It can set reminders and use its Wi-Fi connection to tell you about the weather. It’ll also work with IFTTT, the online rule-maker with a ton of smart home partners, to control some connected devices.

Supposedly, Kuri can also recognize faces and context and adapt its responses accordingly. Those responses include chirps and nods, since Kuri doesn’t talk, though it will play podcast, music and tell stories. It also has LEDs built into its chest that can change colors.