Japan’s largest unicorn announces home AI robot. Aiming to eliminate “nameless housework”…

A subsidiary of Preferred Networks, Japan’s largest unicorn company, has announced its first home robot. It took five years to develop. It is said that he wants to use AI technology to help solve the problem of “democratization of robots” and “nameless housework”.

AI robot that serves and cleans up

Preferred Networks, the largest unicorn company in Japan with a corporate value of over 350 billion yen, which handles many AI-related services (according to research by Nikkei Shimbun and Uzabase INITIAL).

This time, the AI ​​robot for home use was announced by the subsidiary Preferred Robotics, which was established in the form of a company split in 2021 to concentrate on robot development.

A set of a square solid body (main body) weighing 10 kg named “Kachaka” and a shelf with casters,”Set up” “Clean up”When you talk to him, he will help you with the housework when you can’t take care of it alone, such as bringing the food to the table or clearing the dishes in the kitchen.

It will be easier to understand if you watch the video below.

Toru Isobe, CEO of Preferred Robotics,

“Even if each task is not a big deal, doing it tens of thousands of times every day can become a big burden.Kachaka can play a role in supporting nameless household choresIt should be.” (Mr. Isobe)

says.

Barrier-free homes

It is also possible to set instructions in advance from a dedicated smartphone app. If you put books, medicine, dumbbells, etc. on the rack, you can digest “reading books”, take medicine, muscle training, etc.habituationWhat you want will be delivered on the specified day and time.

Preferred Robotics has been developing home robots for about five years.

“Moving furniture is a simple function, but it is extremely difficult to realize it in the home.Unlike factories and shops, the environment inside a house is diverse.That’s why. Even so, we were able to achieve autonomous movement within the home thanks to the advanced fusion of software and hardware technology, which is our strength.” (Mr. Isobe)

Even in a diverse living space where people and things are constantly changing, it is possible to recognize your position, avoid obstacles, and derive the optimal route to your destination thanks to the built-in camera and multiple sensors. sensor.

However, it seems that it is forbidden to expect too much.

“fundamentallyTargeting barrier-free homesI’m doing it. In a carpeted room, depending on the pile and thickness, the ability will drop. We have implemented functions such as detecting whether it is a carpet or not and moving closer to the sofa so as not to intrude on the rug.” (Mr. Isobe)

female only voice

What caught my attention was the voice assistant that responds with “I brought the tableware to the dining room” and “I will clean up the tableware”.One pattern of female high-pitched voiceIt means that there is no choice.

AI voice assistants are often set in the voices of young women, and it has been a long time since the problem was raised that they promote the gender bias that “women = support roles” and “submissive”. In 2019, UNESCO also criticized it in a report.

The fact that the voice of this product, which claims to eliminate “nameless housework”, is only female voices should be reconsidered from the viewpoint of diversity.

The company”It’s not like we’ve intentionally chosen one pattern. We were considering several patterns during the development stage. We should be expanding in the future.”talking to

Body price over 220,000, what is the odds of winning?

The interesting price of Kachaka is the main body228,000 yen. three shelves29,800 yen.In addition, monthly usage fee980 yenIt takes (all tax included). Sales targets are not disclosed.

Toru Nishikawa, CEO of Preferred Networks, said this release is a “big step” toward the spread of robots.

“We are also focusing on the research and development of supercomputers, and we will continue to aim to build the world’s fastest supercomputers. We will make full use of the power of computers to evolve robot software,” says Nishikawa. )