Artificial intelligence is moving into the real world as robots and companion pets

AI doesn’t always want to improve your life or steal your job. Sometimes, AI just wants to be your friend. And while robotic pets weren’t the biggest stars at CES 2026, they are becoming more than just hype and indicate how artificial intelligence appears to be leaving our screens and taking on a physical presence in our lives.

To be clear, there is no shortage of custom-built machines on display in Las Vegas: there are Samsung voice controlled refrigerator, Bosch Alexa Plus powered AI baristaRobofax is smarter like narwhal Flow finding earring 2 Or deny Juve S2which shines as an aromatherapy diffuser — all of which promises to automate the drudgery of everyday life. Humanoid robots such as LG CLOiD and SwitchBot’s Onero H1 It stole a lot of the spotlight, too, taking that logic a step further by promising more general-purpose helpers around the house — or the factory floor, in case Boston Dynamics Atlas – Even if it has been out of daily use for years.

But not all the robots at CES seem interested in a job. Beyond the big demos and flashy promises of automation, there’s a quieter trend taking shape: machines designed for little purpose beyond what exists. And they are everywhere.

If you are bored of charging your phone, Luna Disk is dead It offers a solution: It turns your iPhone into a cute companion with oversized Pixar-like eyes that follow you as you talk. It has practical features, too, like Slack integration and meeting assistance, but as a selling point they seem almost incidental to the accompanying experience. The company says the tool is powered by artificial intelligence, but it did not say how.

Speaking of Pixar, Zeroth is an AI robotics startup He wants to sell you a real WALL-E companionor in markets like the US where it lacks a Disney license, something close to WALL-E’s weird, unbranded cousin. The robot, called W1, doesn’t do much besides follow you, carry small objects, or take a few photos. Company He says The W1 is built on “advanced mobility and environmental AI,” though details are vague.

Zeroth also brought a doll-sized humanoid robot, M1, to the U.S., an at-home companion that mixes utility — reminders, child care assistance, fall detection — with companionship, leveraging Google’s Gemini AI model for conversations. This combination has already secured an audience for social robots that are very popular in parts of Asia, especially in China and South Korea, where the robots are popular with children and teenagers. the elderly. CES 2026 suggests that this concept is now being deliberately repackaged and marketed to Western homes.

Others are more clearly drawn to emotional companionship. In other words: robotic pets. there FuzuzuAn inflatable ball that purrs when petted and can recognize its owner. Unlike many home AI devices, it has… Cellular connectionallowing them to be carried with you, a hint at how ubiquitous these products will become in the future, even if it’s not clear how precisely AI will be used.

Robovac Ecovacs has also marketed a robot that resembles a Bichon Frisé. She says emotional companion robot, LilMilo uses artificial intelligence and “lifelike biometrics” to recognize voices, develop personality and adapt to user habits. As with other products, details regarding the AI ​​component within LilMilo are general and non-descript. It’s an odd product for a company that just launched a robotic pool cleaner, and a clear sign of how companies increasingly expect us to welcome AI companions into our homes not because of what they do, but simply because they’re there.