Asus creates the first 'affordable' household robot

The Taiwanese electronics company has unveiled Zenbo, which is being marketed as an 'affordable' household robot. The device is voice-activated and will be able to control any pieces of smart tech in the home.

Asus has been able to cut costs versus other companies' robots as it lacks arms and other humanoid features. Zenbo will cost around $599/£409.

Colin Bull, Principal Consultant of Manufacturing and Product Development at SQS, has commented on the potential risks inherent with AI technology:

"The launch of the Zenbo, a personal digital assistant in robot form by Asus this week is the latest attempt to introduce artificially intelligent (AI) robots into our homes. As smarter technology, from surveillance cameras to kitchen appliances, infiltrates our humble abodes it is placing an increasingly higher importance upon the need for quality assurance throughout the manufacturing process. Whilst testing all hardware is important, guaranteeing the software that controls the AI enabled hardware is also tested is imperative. In order to safeguard the products that hit the market, manufacturers must properly test the software behind the AI components or potentially face legal ramifications should something not function as desired.

"By outsourcing the testing process to specialist software quality and testing houses, manufacturers can ensure the smooth running of their processes and be safe in the knowledge that they have done all they can to minimise the threat of a Skynet catastrophe."

It is unclear when Zenbo will available on the market; it has been demonstrated in Taiwan, but remains a work in progress.

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