The Kookiest, Fluffiest, Most Futuristic Robots of CES 2025 So Far

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Just days into my CES 2025 adventures, I'm already surrounded by robots. A person can only be so lucky. While other tech trends come and go, robots are an abiding theme here at one of the world's largest tech shows. Some are cute, some are practical and some promise the world but never quite deliver. Regardless, I have a deep, abiding affection for them for injecting next-level excitement into the world of tech -- and I know you do, too.

Robots have always been physical, active pieces of tech, but developments in AI are raising the game for robots in terms of their intelligence, which both makes them smarter as well as easier for us to interact with. As we scour the show floor this week, we're keeping an eye out for all the new robots -- and some older ones such as Samsung's Ballie, which made its debut back in 2020 and just this week got a release date.

We'll continue to update our robot list as more droids make themselves known to us, but here's what we've seen so far.

Robots for social fun

Mirumi

From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.

Mirumi is a heart-melting baby sloth robot that is somehow also a bag charm. The little robot from Japanese company Yukai Engineering will cling to your purse strap and scan for passersby to make eye contact with, moving its head inquisitively, and sometimes looking away bashfully. It serves no other purpose than to spark joy, and that's OK. Just like fashion, robots are supposed to be fun -- they don't always have to be terrifying cyborgs.

Nékojita FuFu

Another invention from Yukai Engineering is Nékojita FuFu, a little cat that clings to your coffee cup or soup bowl and blows until your food or drink has reached the perfect temperature. It's designed for people who struggle with sensitivity to hot food, which is also known as cat's tongue (or néko jita) in Japanese. The little fan inside expels air in a randomized rhythm through the cat's mouth and is designed to mimic human breathing, although in a demo we noticed the air was a lot cooler than warm human breath -- which we hope would make it even more effective. The best thing though? When Nékojita FuFu goes on sale, it will cost just $25.

Ropet

As its name suggests, Ropet is a robot pet and it loves nothing more than you stroking its fuzzy outer coat. Ropet's appearance can differ based on the color of its fur and face (which are both interchangeable), as well its accessories. But if I had to commit to a description, I'd say it's a sort of lamb-seal-owl hybrid. It's not just a pretty face either; there's some smarts going on behind those eyes. Using the camera in its nose (where else?) it can recognize different food types and if you show it, say, an orange, oranges will then appear in its eyes. It will dance to nearby music, and even chat with you using AI when it's connected to Wi-Fi, which is more than my cat can do.

Miroka

It's not Miroka's first rodeo at CES, but the social robot from French company Enchanted Tools hit an important milestone in the last 12 months: It finally went on sale and people have been buying it. In terms of character design, Miroka is one of the most sophisticated robots we've met, and it's got an impressive array of capabilities, too. It's agile thanks to its roller base, it has opposable thumbs for picking things up and carrying them, and it can also converse with people. Want one? It will set you back a whopping 100,000 euros.

From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.

Robots for chores and assistance

Roborock Saros Z70

The Roborock Saros Z70 vacuum robot is the household helper the messy among us have been waiting for. We all know how robot vacuums work by now, but this one can also scoot around picking up your dirty socks and putting them in the laundry bin for you, thanks to its mechanical arm. It unfortunately isn't on sale yet -- and will likely be more expensive than other robot vacs when it is -- but can you really put a price on a bedroom floor consistently clear of discarded underwear?

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