CES knows how to surprise us. Think creepy humanoid robots, robovacs that climb stairs, plus AI in everything. Companies at CES 2026 pitched new bots as home helpers and companions. Are they ready to join our lives? I say no. For most people, handing off everyday grunt work to humanoid bots still feels unrealistic. That said, they’re inching closer to being useful. A few other robots caught my eye too, though—for more unexpected reasons.
LG’s CLOiD (concept/prototype) isn’t too strange for a home robot. It looks a bit human and handles useful tasks, like laundry. But having Alice from Subservience walking through your home still feels like something out of the future.
The LG robot uses AI and vision technology to do chores around the house. It’s part of LG’s bigger push into “ambient care,” where machines help make life run smoother without much effort.
LG isn’t the only company aiming to reduce household tasks. SwitchBot’s Onero H1 (coming soon for around $10,000), a robot on wheels, can handle your window washing or laundry. It builds on the company’s earlier robot and can move in 22 different ways, thanks to its 22 degrees of freedom (DoF).
Takway, a Chinese startup, introduces Sweekar (coming soon for $100–$150), a cute AI pocket pet that grows with you in both body and emotion. Unlike most virtual pets, Sweekar can change its form over time through a built-in experience points system.