Samsung’s new robot does all your housework and serves you wine
Housework is boring, robots are awesome, and soon you can bring that awesomeness home.
Key takeaways
- The robot uses cameras mounted to the body and AI to recognise objects and complete chores.
- Although Phil was reluctant to let it go near his dishwasher, revealing he has a very particular way of stacking things.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) 'Samsung’s new robot does all your housework and serves you wine', 311 Institute, 15 January. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/samsungs-newest-robot-does-all-your-housework-for-you/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
When I was compiling Samsung’s centennial Life in 2070 report to celebrate their fiftieth birthday and the opening of their giant King’s Cross store in London, one of the questions we asked the public was what new technology they’d like to see invented. And the top answer? “A robot to do the housework.” A year on and guess what Samsung have unveiled at CES 2021 ... you guessed it, a robot that does the housework! Polls work, who knew!?
Unveiled this week Samsung’s robotic household helper can pick up laundry, lay the table, load the dishwasher and bring you a glass of wine at the end of a hard day. Personally, I’m a fan of anything that makes our lives easier, especially housework when we’re all locked in thanks COVID-19, so a robot that can load the dishwasher and serves wine, while another robot does the vacuuming, sounds awesome.
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Not coming to a home near you soon: Samsung's Handy robot is the most complicated way of getting your plates from the sink to the dishwasher possible. But it highlights AI advances being made to make it possible for robots to grasp different types of objects, which are v clever. pic.twitter.com/GCaXnuOm3w
Leo Kelion (@LeoKelion) January 11, 2021
According to Sebastian Seung, president of Samsung Research, the handy bot is meant to be “an extension of you in the kitchen, living room, and anywhere else you may need an extra hand in your home.”
The tall, thin black and white robot has two large digital eyes to express emotion. It also has a single arm, with three joints allowing it to lift and move items. The robot uses cameras mounted to the body and AI to recognise objects and complete chores.
However, not everyone is a fan of the new development. On This Morning, Holly Willougby and Phil Schofield joked that the new technology was going to take over our homes.
“I mean this is all going to go terribly wrong,” said Holly. “One day we are going to come down, and it’s going to take over your house and kill us, isn’t it.”
“It’s gonna lock us out! One day it will lock us out, and we’ll find out it is just sitting in its pants watching the telly,” added Phil.
However, the pair did agree that there were some aspects of the Robot helper they’d find handy. Although Phil was reluctant to let it go near his dishwasher, revealing he has a very particular way of stacking things.
Before you start adding the handy bot to your wishlist though it isn’t clear when the product will be available to buy. The robot has been described as being “in development” still.
The Consumer Electronics Show which runs every year in Las Vegas is often used to demo futuristic-looking robots that are more concept than a buyable product. We could have a long wait on our hands before we see this in our homes. In the meantime though I’m keeping my fingers crossed and my dishwasher’s waiting to be filled, it might be a very long time before I get around to it though so roll on robots!
What this means for your organisation
Consumers asked for this first.
Public polling for the Life in 2070 report found the most wanted invention was a robot to do the housework. Demand is clear before the product exists. Brands should test which chores their customers would hand over first.
Concepts are not products yet.
The robot is still in development, with no date for sale. The show is often used for concepts rather than goods people can buy. Leaders should plan for a long runway and watch for firm launch signals.
Homes become a design surface for machines.
A one-armed robot that loads dishwashers and lays tables needs items it can identify and grip. Makers of appliances, packaging and furniture may need to design for robot hands as well as human ones. Early work with robot makers could help set the standards.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our products would a home robot struggle to identify or handle?
- How would robot helpers change the services we sell into homes?
- What signals would tell us home robots are ready for mass sale?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Housework is boring, robots are awesome, and soon you can bring that awesomeness home.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- View on X → twitter.com
- Sebastianseung linkedin.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 January 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). Samsung’s new robot does all your housework and serves you wine. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/samsungs-newest-robot-does-all-your-housework-for-you/
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