Home Robotics

Key Takeaway:

Recently, tech incumbents like Amazon, Google, and Dyson have made notable moves in the consumer robotics space. In 2023, we can expect to see tech giants leverage advances in AI and sensor technology to stake more significant claims in this emerging space that is expected to grow from $22 billion in 2022 to $43 billion by the end of the decade.

Trend Type: Technology

Sub-trends: Home-robotics, Connected Devices Commerce

April, 2023 • Less than 2 min read

The consumer robots market was worth $22 billion in 2022, as estimated per CB Insights’ Industry Analyst Consensus. It is shifting from a phase of being primarily dominated by cleaning robots into personal assistants and companions. Recently, tech incumbents like Amazon, Google, and Dyson have made notable moves in consumer robotics, signaling a looming competition to transform the home and put themselves at the center of consumers’ day-to-day lives.
According to the global consumer robotics market report by Market Research Future (MRFR), this market is expected to grow to $43 billion by 2030. In 2023, we can expect tech giants to leverage AI and sensor technology advances to stake more extensive claims in the emerging space. Meanwhile, watch for increasing activity and innovative tech from robotics insurgents eager to enter the home. Smart TVs, connected homes, and connected cars have increased, and each is also independently experiencing catalysts that will make them easier to use and more responsive in 2023. With seamless connections in new contexts, new forms of commerce should follow: smart home IoT gets integrated, embedded car systems make payments more manageable, click-to-buy comes to your TV, QR codes and visual search create new m-commerce opportunities.
Despite the potential benefits of housework, bringing robots into consumers’ homes will not be without challenges. For example, robots in the house will have to operate in more limited spaces and dynamic environments than those performing repetitive tasks in warehouses. On the other hand, advances in conversational AI will be critical to make robots more responsive and realistic. Still, they could also act as powerful data harvesters or ad platforms for contextual product recommendations. Home robot makers will have to build up users’ trust.

Use Cases

Matter Standard

CONNECTED DEVICES COMMERCE: The long-awaited Matter common standard, lets users integrate devices and tie them to virtual assistants, opening new paths to ecommerce. (refer also to “Decentralization & Interoperability” trend). Matter promises to enable different devices and ecosystems to play nicely. Device manufacturers need to comply with the Matter standard to ensure their devices are compatible with smart home and voice services such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google’s Assistant, and others. For folks building a smart home, Matter theoretically lets you buy any device and use the voice assistant or platform you prefer to control it (yes, you should be able to use different voice assistants to talk to the same product).

Amazon Labrador System

HOME ROBOTICS: Earlier in 2022, Amazon participated in a $3.1M follow-on seed round to Labrador Systems via its Amazon Alexa Fund. Labrador is developing at-home assistive robots to aid users living with chronic pain and other health conditions. Its robots can navigate users’ homes to transport items and even retrieve objects from tables and countertops. The company has also been experimenting with its own at home robot called Astro, which it’s effectively pitching as a self propelled Alexa tablet that doubles as a Ring-equipped security guard for monitoring homes when people are out.

Dyson Household Tasks

HOME ROBOTICS: Dyson Household Tasks has been exploring the potential for robotics to assist with household tasks. In May 2022, the company shared a video teasing prototype robots completing tasks like washing the dishes, setting the table, picking up toys, and other chores. While these projects are still in R&D stages, they indicate the company’s interest in deploying advanced robotics that can safely operate in home environments — and hint at the developments in home robotics that we may see unfold in 2023 and beyond.

Use Cases

Matter Standard

CONNECTED DEVICES COMMERCE: The long-awaited

Amazon Labrador System

HOME ROBOTICS: Earlier in 2022,

Dyson Household Tasks

HOME ROBOTICS:

Sub-Trend Sources
Home-robotics: Hootsuite Social Trend, CB Insights Tech Trends 2023
Connected Devices Commerce: NextAtlas, eMarketer Tech trends to Watch