We’ve seen robots dance, deliver packages, and even help out at work. But now, we’re getting to the point where you might actually be able to buy one yourself. I recently met an entrepreneur who believes they’ll soon be part of our everyday lives.
Joe Alcedo spends his days surrounded by robots. He has two – HAL, a humanoid, and OPPY, a dog-like robot.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Alcedo. “Sky’s the limit on what can happen.”
His startup, Youmanoids, is betting that robots will become as common as smartphones. He says the potential uses are endless, from security and companionship to delivery and play.
“Possibly one out of every hundred people can have one,” he said. “You’ll see that in the near future.”
To help make that happen, Alcedo plans to open a mini showroom – a place where people can see the robots in person, learn how they work, and even buy or service them.
“People don’t know how they look, what they can do,” said Alcedo. “That’s what we’re here for.”
Right now, prices are steep. The humanoid robot costs around $22,000, while the dog version sells for about $4,500.
The models we checked out are made by Unitree, a Chinese robotics company known for its lifelike motion. With the help of AI, these robots can see, move, and even respond to questions.
When we brought them out to a North Hollywood street, people stopped instantly to snap photos and videos.
“That’s crazy – that’s showing the future,” said onlooker Jacob Bryant. “There’s going to be more and more robots around.”
“I think it’s shocking at first, especially together – the one standing and the dog one was cool. I don’t know about the human one just yet,” added Evelyn Setaghian, who happened to be getting her (real) dog groomed.
“I’m not offended by them,” said Kimberly Weiner, owner of dog grooming parlor Fluffology. “And I don’t think they’re going to put us out of business anytime soon.”
“The robots are here for assistance,” Alcedo concluded. “They are user-friendly, and they can be shut down at any time.”
For years, we’ve been promised a future filled with helpful robots. If Alcedo is right, that future might be closer than we think.
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