Once confined to the realm of science fiction, technologies equipped with artificial intelligence have quickly become a fixture of 21st-century life with the advent of Amazon’s Alexa and other virtual assistants.
But for many, the process of acclimating to robots and AI began when then-military supplier iRobot introduced the Roomba autonomous vacuum cleaner. In subsequent years, the Roomba gained more capabilities and intelligence to make it more practical for homeowners — and any adventurous pets along for the ride.
This week, however, the robotics company unveiled a new platform for the Roomba that it says will provide unprecedented personalization and control.
The iRobot Genius Home Intelligence system, the company says, allows users to control their internet-connected vacuums through a redesigned mobile app. Roomba models equipped with the platform can suggest areas that commonly require cleaning, and — when integrated with a smart speaker — users can order the device to clean, say, around the couch.
The system can link with other smart devices, such as thermostats and security systems, to clean when it recognizes that residents aren’t home, and it can suggest routine cleaning times and avoid areas in the home where it tends to get stuck.
iRobot says the platform can also suggest more frequent cleanings based on seasonal changes in allergens or pet shedding.
The new AI capabilities are slated to be added to the Roomba i7/i7+ and s9/s9+ via a software update this week.
