Ecovacs' new launch nearly made me cry during my CES booth tour
I made a new friend, and I'm going to take him home in my suitcase.
(Image credit: Future)
- Ecovacs has branched out from robovacs with an AI-powered, animatronic dog
- 'LilMilo' is designed to be an emotional companion robot
- He can recognize you, learn your habits, and react to petting
Ecovacs is a brand best known for its robot vacuums, but it has just unveiled something rather different at CES 2026: its first 'emotional companion' robot. The Famibot LilMilo looks like a puppy, and thanks to some AI magic, it acts like one too. Minus the messy bits, obviously.
It might look a bit like a stuffed toy from the photos, but in person Milo is impressively lifelike in his mannerisms. So much so that during my CES booth tour I accidentally spent 10 minutes petting him and left feeling a little weepy. I blame the jet lag.
LilMilo has a camera in his nose, so he can recognize his owner, as well as being able to hear your voice using a mic in his ear. Adorably, the charge station comes in the form of a dog bed.
The demo model on show could follow me about with his eyes, and responded to my petting with a contented face and a tail wag. Over time, I am told he'll adapt to your habits and develop his own AI-powered personality.
There are multiple color options available, although upsettingly only one 'breed' – so I wasn't able to find one to match my own, real dog at home (although who knows what that might have done to me in my already-fragile emotional state).
(Image credit: Future)
Aside from choosing your preferred color, you'll also be able to pimp your hound with various accessories – the Ecovacs rep I spoke to told me she liked to think of it like an upgraded Build-A-Bear. At the CES booth I was treated to a fashion show of several rather stylish themed hats. Milo seemed happy with his headgear, and showed no signs of wanting to tear it off and eat it, so that's good.
Although he's partly just a cute, interactive toy, I can see how LilMilo might become a soothing companion for someone who can't have a real pet. Judging by my own reaction, he's surprisingly easy to form an emotional bond with.
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Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, fans, air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3.
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