Let's face it. Nobody—and I mean nobody, except maybe those weirdos who enjoy ironing shirts on Sunday nights—loves housework. Doing laundry is a 21st-century Sisyphean task; you're barely done before the basket is full again. And don't even get me started on the dishes. But LG says that's the end of that. It's called CLOiD, and it's probably the first thing on four wheels in a long time that's excited me more than the new Porsche 911. Why? Because you can't send a Porsche into the kitchen to make you a sandwich, and the LG CLOiD apparently can.
First, let’s get a few things straight. When tech companies say “Zero Labor Home,” they usually mean that instead of doing physical labor, you’ll spend three hours connecting your smart fridge to your Wi-Fi network. A LG CLOiD It works differently. It's not just a vacuum cleaner that crashes into your dog. It's a real, humanoid robot with a torso, a head, and – most importantly – arms.
LG unveiled a vision at CES 2026 where a robot takes over the physical burden. We're not talking about an abstract future; we're talking about a robot that actually opens the fridge, takes out the milk, and places it on the counter. If I still had a driver's license, I'd probably send it to pick up the kids from school.
Engineering masterpiece: 7 degrees of freedom
This is where things get interesting for us petrolheads. This robot's arms aren't just simple pliers you'd find in a plush toy machine. Each arm has 7 degrees of freedom. Why is that important? The human arm is a marvel of evolution and an engineering nightmare to emulate. Seven degrees of freedom means CLOiD can move with a grace usually only seen in ballerinas or F1 mechanics changing tires.
Even more impressive: It has five independently powered fingers on each hand. That means it can pick up a delicate wine glass without crushing it into dust, or pick up a dirty sock with just the right amount of disgust. The torso is height-adjustable, meaning it can bend down to a lower shelf or reach an upper cabinet. The foundation? Wheels with self-driving technology. Imagine a self-driving car, but it operates in your living room instead of on the highway.
Artificial intelligence that “feels” (or at least pretends to)
Of course, it wouldn't be 2026 without the word "artificial intelligence" thrown into every sentence. LG calls it "Affectionate Intelligence." It sounds like the name of a dating website, but in practice it's generative AI that allows a robot to understand context.
CLOiD doesn’t just follow “go there” commands. It understands scenarios. In a demonstration on stage, the robot recognized that the residents had left and automatically started a laundry cycle. Once it was dry, it—and this is the moment that made the men in the audience cry with joy—folded the laundry. It uses advanced cameras and sensors in its head to “see” its surroundings, recognize objects, and avoid a cat that is probably already plotting its death.
Connectivity: ThinQ on steroids
CLOiD is not a lone wolf. It is part of the LG ThinQ ecosystem. It connects to your oven, washing machine, and refrigerator. If your refrigerator knows it is running low on eggs, CLOiD will know. It may not be able to “hatch” them, but it can remind you or even order new ones.
Here are the key details you need to know:
- Manipulation: 7-axis arms, 5-finger grip.
- Mobility: Autonomous wheel base with low center of gravity (for stability when carrying your dinner).
- Sensors: Vision AI (cameras, depth sensors).
- Communication: Voice interaction with generative AI (you can talk to it if you are lonely).
- Purpose: Cooking, washing, cleaning, bringing objects.
Conclusion: Do you need it?
Let's be honest. The price of this marvel probably won't be cheap. It'll probably cost as much as a decent used family wagon. But ask yourself: how much is your freedom worth? How much is it worth never having to pick up a dirty rag again?
LG CLOiD represents the future promised to us in The Jetsons. Is it perfect? Probably not. It will probably mix up the red laundry with the white and you'll be wearing pink shirts to work. But since the alternative is to do it myself, I'm willing to take the risk.
If CLOiD works half as well as they promise, it's the greatest contribution to human happiness since the invention of the internal combustion engine. LG, send me one. And yes, I want it in matte black.
