Alexa, is that you? The LG Hub Robot uses Amazon’s voice-activation assistant

By Jenny McGrath January 5, 2017

The Amazon Echo doesn’t have it, nor does the Google Home. But the LG Hub Robot boasts a screen. The voice-activated assistant, on display at CES 2017, is a little robot that has blinking eyes and changes its face based on what program is running. It’s actually quite cute, and sort of looks a bit like an electronic Russian nesting doll.

The Hub actually uses Alexa for its voice activation. The speaker can play your music or read your kids a bedtime story, according to LG. The screen adds another dimension, however. If you ask it to look up a recipe, you could also follow along on the screen and maybe even watch a video to help you perfect an unfamiliar technique.

The Hub will also have baby bots for you to spread around your house. It functions as a smart-home hub that’s specifically designed to work with LG home appliances. SmartThinQ is LG’s smart technology, which can be found in ranges, fridges, laundry machines, and so on. The fact that it’s using Amazon’s technology could suggest LG is open to pairing with other manufacturers — a must if the Hub is truly going to rule your smart home.

LG wasn’t giving away a ton of details about the forthcoming device, but it did suggest this bot will actually be able to recognize who’s speaking. That would be quite a leap forward, as Echoes and Dots currently treat all users the same, meaning you have to tell the assistant who you are if you want to switch between profiles.

That wasn’t the only robot LG had on display. There was a device that scans boarding passes at airports, so you won’t have to stare at giant boards for your gate information. LG also has an upcoming robotic lawn mower. The details about pricing and availability of all these robots are not available, but the airport version will show up in Seoul’s Incheon airport first.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…

Smart Home

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo: Which premium robot vacuum is best?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock and Ecovacs are two of the biggest names in the world of robot vacuums. The companies have been producing some of the best robot vacuum and mop combos for years, and that trend has continued into 2024 with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. Both are ultra-premium devices that clock in at over $1,000, and we awarded both of them impressive scores in our reviews. In short, it's hard to go wrong with either robot vacuum.

However, there are some key differences between the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. From suction power and mopping skills to pricing and additional features, here's a comprehensive look at the two robot vacuums to help you decide which is best for your home.
Pricing and availability

Smart Home

Samsung Spring Sale: Get up to $915 off smart ranges today

A Samsung smart range with the Smart Oven camera.

Samsung's Spring Black Friday sale has slashed the prices of all kinds of home appliances, including gas and electric ranges. There are discounts available for Samsung's smart ranges too, which will allow you to enjoy savings of up to $915. Feel free to check out all the ranges that are cheaper than usual in the ongoing sale, but if you want to focus on getting a smart range for your kitchen, read on to learn all about them and how much you'll have to pay.

What to buy in Samsung's Spring Black Friday sale for smart ranges
Samsung's smart ranges are equipped with the Smart Oven Camera, which will allow you to check on the food that you're cooking through a livestream on your phone. You can even make time-lapse videos and share them on social media. You'll enjoy this feature on the Samsung Bespoke 6.3. cu. ft. smart slide-in electric range, which is from $2,536 for a $737 discount, and the Samsung Bespoke 6.0. cu. ft. smart slide-in gas range, which is from $2,659 for savings of $760. Both smart ranges have illuminated precision knobs that light up to let you know that the home appliance is on, and they work with the Samsung SmartThings app for pre-heating the oven, planning meals, downloading cooking modes, and much more.

Smart Home

How to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight

The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

The Nanoleaf Skylight is a unique piece of hardware. Unlike most Nanoleaf products that are quick to install or easy to move and replace, the Skylight is designed as a permanent fixture in your home. Instead of simply plugging it into an electrical outlet, you'll need to hardwire it onto your ceiling – and once it's in place, you'll want it to stay there for years.

However, like all electronics, it's possible for your Nanoleaf Skylight to start acting up. And since there's no easy way to get the entire unit down from your ceiling, you might be wondering how you can quickly solve the problem. Thankfully, Nanoleaf designed a simple way for you to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight without the need to disassemble the entire setup.