Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix, discusses humanoid robots as companions as well as workers with John Koetsier on NEXT, alongside Aria, Realbotix’s AI-integrated robot.
Kiguel says robots may replace many jobs involving physical labor, while creating roles in AI, mechanics, planning, and management. He compares this shift with the changes brought by cars and the internet, and argues that society will need to decide how to support people as work changes.
Kiguel says Realbotix focuses on social and emotional uses, including companionship. He points to loneliness, geographic isolation, and social difficulties as possible use cases, and cites a projection that the companionship AI market could reach $85 billion within ten years.
Kiguel says Realbotix combines existing AI with its own conversational model, which he says has more than five million conversational terms and can learn from interactions. He describes customization for different personalities and relationships, with the AI available through robot hardware or as a standalone product on a phone or computer.
Asked about vulnerable users, Kiguel says AI can be filtered for settings such as schools and hospitals, customized before delivery, and monitored afterward; he also says conversations are stored in a secure cloud. He describes Realbotix’s wheeled robots as a choice for smooth movement and says 16 micro-actuators support facial expressions and lip synchronization.
Kiguel says Realbotix products are available now, including an AI-enabled robotic head for about $10,000. More mobile robots start around $175,000, while a full-body model like Aria costs about $200,000 and moves on a wheeled platform.
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