LG to present AI robots at CES 2017 for outdoor public use

LG is planning to show “advanced robot technologies” at CES 2017 next week to showcase new innovations in artificial intelligence. The robots aren’t your run-of-the-mill smart toasters or vacuum bots either, with some being designed for public use outdoors. If you’re getting visions of K-2So, you’re probably on the right track.

There looks to be three new AI bots on the way, one for use at home, serving as a “smart home gateway” and personal assistant for owners: think, I, Robot. Another model “will demonstrate new capabilities for tending to one’s yard and garden”: think, The Lawnmower Man.

The third, and perhaps most interesting type of robot LG has lined up includes “models designed for commercial use in public spaces such as airports and hotels to help improve the traveler’s experience”: think, Johnny Cab in Total Recall.

OK, maybe my robot analogies are a little off, but we’re inching ever closer to a world where we all have our own personal robot assistants to mow the lawn, make pancakes, carry our luggage and generally do the crap we don’t want to do.

LG’s new robots will be able to “navigate complex environments and decipher the most efficient and effective path to accomplish tasks, making people’s lives easier at every touch-point.” Bring on the Ex Machina future, but let’s hope they don’t go all Eva/HAL-9000/Skynet on us.

Do you want an AI robot assistant in your house? Or are you still a little freaked out by the prospect of intelligent robots?

Related: Google’s AI has come up with its own secret encryption method