Social robots are back on the menu as new devices are debuting at the world’s largest trade show, CES 2026.
Ollobot is a cyber-pet engineered for bringing interaction and emotional presence for a range of users. The company said the cyber-pet will be in the form of a social robot that can:
- Offer timely reminders
- Anticipate needs based on contextual cues
- Stay aware of the surrounding environment
- Integrate into a larger digital ecosystem
Troubled history
Social or companion robots have a not-so successful history. As quickly as they were promised to transform the smart home and users lives, they were pulled off the shelf due to lack of interest.
The market has seen numerous such robots come and go like Kuri and Jibo.
Most of these robots use machine learning and AI as well as facial recognition to learn human behavior and emotional states. Despite this promising aspect to social robots, up until now, consumers continue to reject the idea of having a cute, but often creepy, robotic pet in their homes.
Sometimes it is the price point that is too much or sometimes there just isn’t enough action from these robots to make it worth the hassle of having it in the home. Sometimes it is the fact these social robots are consistently needing attention and most busy people simply do not have time for that.
Funny enough, Ollobot said it designed its cyber-pet to prioritize the need for a social robot in the home as it adapts to users rather than demanding users adapt to them.
And while many social robots are geared toward people living alone, like seniors, or those without pets, Ollobot said it is targeting Gen Z as this generation increasingly “embraces plush toys and AI companions as sources of comfort and self-care in daily life.”
While that may be the case for some Gen Z people, not sure everyone will agree with this statement.
Will the strategy pay off? Stay tuned.
CES 2026 takes place January 6-9, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
