This Humanoid Is Ready to Bring You a Toothbrush

The newest humanoid robot on the scene, Sprout, is not designed to carry boxes or stack shelves. Instead, this charming and relatively cheap model, roughly the size of a 9-year-old child, is meant to help customers in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

“We said, ‘What if we could build something lightweight, engaging, and safe to be around, and capable enough to do some exciting things?’” says Robert Cochran, cofounder and CEO of Fauna, the startup behind Sprout.

Sprout is available to purchase starting today from $50,000. Cochran adds that his firm is already talking to hotels about using Sprout as a butler that brings toothbrushes and other items to guests in need.

Sprout’s launch is part of a growing industry in the United States. The business of humanoids is booming despite the fact that it’s still unclear how practical and useful these systems will be. More than a ...