I saw LG’s latest household robot CLOid handling the laundry, but I’m left with some questions

LG Unveils CLOid: The Next Step in Home Robotics at CES

CES is renowned for showcasing innovative robots, and this year LG introduced its latest creation: CLOid. This AI-driven home assistant is designed to transform the way we handle household chores, promising to take over many of the tasks we do every day.

CLOid is engineered to help with a broad spectrum of domestic activities, such as folding clothes, preparing breakfast, and monitoring the home for any unusual activity. According to LG, their long-term vision is for CLOid to become an “ambient-care agent,” seamlessly supporting daily living.

The robot made its debut during LG’s keynote address and was also demonstrated on the show floor, where attendees could watch it in action. I observed CLOid alongside a presenter, performing various tasks for an eager crowd.

Equipped with autonomous navigation, CLOid can move independently throughout the home. It features multiple cameras and sensors, which, when integrated with LG’s ThinQ smart home app, allow it to analyze its surroundings and offer helpful suggestions to improve the user’s daily life.

Communication is another key feature: CLOid is fitted with speakers and utilizes a vision language model that interprets images and video into structured language. Its action program can also translate spoken instructions into physical actions, much like a more advanced version of a voice assistant.

How CLOid Stands Out Among Home Robots

Recent years have seen the arrival of several home robots, such as Amazon’s Astro and Enabot’s EBO X. While CLOid follows in their footsteps, it is designed to handle a wider range of household duties. Unlike its smaller, wheeled predecessors, CLOid features a substantial upper body and two arms, enabling it to physically interact with its environment and handle objects.

Despite its promising design, the live demonstration I attended showed CLOid performing tasks at a cautious pace. For example, it carefully moved a shirt from a basket to a dryer and gently placed a croissant into an oven. The presentation also included polished video segments depicting the robot in various hypothetical scenarios to illustrate its potential uses.

First Impressions: Potential and Limitations

CLOid’s friendly appearance was notable, but its slow speed stood out the most. During a demonstration, when asked to prepare breakfast, the robot slowly approached the refrigerator, waited for the door to open, and then spent a long moment deciding before selecting a carton of milk.

Even the slowest human would likely outpace CLOid, but speed isn’t the main focus. The goal is to relieve users from mundane chores, aligning with LG’s “Zero Labor Home” initiative, where automation handles routine household tasks. The idea is that you can focus on other activities while CLOid manages the chores in the background.

However, it remains uncertain when this vision will be fully realized. There was no clear information about when CLOid would be available for consumers.

An LG representative on site mentioned that CLOid would eventually be available, but no timeline was provided. I reached out to LG’s Home Solutions team for further details.

More Than Just a Robot: LG’s Expanding Smart Home Ecosystem

Like many robots showcased at CES, CLOid currently serves more as a preview of LG’s technological ambitions than a finished product. It also acts as a showcase for LG’s expanding AI-powered smart home ecosystem, which includes a variety of new devices that may be easier for consumers to adopt than a household robot.

During my visit, I explored some of LG’s latest offerings. Highlights included the return of the ultra-thin LG Wallpaper OLED TV, a range of smart appliances like an AI oven that can identify ingredients and suggest recipes, and a voice-interactive AI refrigerator. All these devices are designed to work seamlessly with CLOid and can be managed through the ThinQ app.

Looking Ahead

While CLOid is not yet ready for everyday use, it represents LG’s vision for a future where intelligent automation makes home life easier and more efficient. As development continues, it will be interesting to see how CLOid and LG’s smart home ecosystem evolve.