Colin Angle, who co-founded iRobot and revolutionized home cleaning with robotic vacuums, has introduced his new venture, Familiar Machines & Magic. This company is developing robots called Familiars, which are designed for companionship rather than household tasks. At the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference, Angle emphasized that the future of robotics lies in creating machines that can build and sustain human connections. The Familiars are described as 'physically embodied AI systems' that can perceive and interact with people in natural ways. The prototype features a touch-sensitive coat, cameras, and microphones to facilitate social interaction. Although the first Familiar is a working prototype, there is currently no information on when it will be commercially available or its pricing. In comparison, adopting a real pet from an animal shelter typically costs between $50 to $125.