LG’s CLOiD Robot Loads Your Laundry, So You Don’t Have To
▼ Summary
– LG unveiled its CLOiD robot at CES 2026, demonstrating its ability to perform household chores like loading laundry.
– The robot interacted with presenters, using a masculine voice to communicate and even offering a fist bump.
– A key demonstration showed CLOiD slowly placing a towel into a washer, a process that took nearly 30 seconds.
– LG claims the robot, part of its “Affectionate Intelligence” vision, can handle various tasks from fetching items to cooking.
– There is no confirmed release date or availability information for the CLOiD robot for consumer purchase.
The vision of a fully automated home took a significant step forward at CES 2026 with the debut of LG’s CLOiD robot. Designed to handle domestic chores, this humanoid assistant aims to create a “zero labor home,” showcasing its abilities by loading laundry and fetching items during the company’s keynote presentation. While the demonstration highlighted both potential and current limitations, it offered a compelling glimpse into a future where robots manage everyday tasks.
During the event, the robot rolled onto the stage, waving its five-fingered hands. Brandt Varner, LG’s vice president of sales for home appliances, handed CLOiD a wet towel and requested it start a load of laundry. The robot responded in a masculine voice, “Sure, I’ll get the laundry started. Let me show everyone what I can do.” Its animated eyes blinked as it approached a washer that opened automatically. CLOiD then extended its left arm, dropping the towel into the drum. The entire sequence, however, was notably slow, taking nearly half a minute just for a single item. This pace raises practical questions about its efficiency for larger tasks, like handling a full week’s worth of clothes.
The robot made a second appearance later in the presentation, this time offering a bottle of water to Steve Scarbrough, LG’s senior vice president of HVAC. “I noticed by your voice and tone that you might want some water,” CLOiD stated before handing over the bottle and initiating a friendly fist bump. This interaction was intended to demonstrate a level of perceptive, responsive intelligence.
LG had teased CLOiD the prior week, promising a bot capable of diverse household chores. The company claims its capabilities extend beyond the stage demo to include fetching groceries from the refrigerator, toasting pastries in the oven, and even stacking and folding laundry. CLOiD concluded the keynote by facing the audience to deliver a final message about LG’s “Affectionate Intelligence” philosophy and its mission to improve daily life.
There is no official information regarding a potential release date or final consumer price for the LG CLOiD. For now, it remains a fascinating prototype, a glimpse of a domestic helper that, while perhaps reminiscent of a certain cinematic robot’s relative, points toward a future where machines shoulder more of our daily burdens.
(Source: The Verge)
