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January 30, 2026
Not ready for robots in homes? A friendly new humanoid might change your mind
Unlike sleek and powerful-looking machines from companies like Tesla, Sprout is designed to be approachable and friendly.
By MATT O’BRIEN
AP Technology Writer
The robot’s design draws inspiration from beloved science fiction characters like WALL-E, Baymax and R2-D2.
NEW YORK — As the new robot called Sprout walks around a Manhattan office, nodding its rectangular head, lifting its windshield wiper-like “eyebrows” and offering to shake your hand with its grippers, it looks nothing like the sleek and intimidating humanoids built by companies like Tesla.
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