Step Aside, Chatbots: AI Robots Have Arrived

Michael Calore: Indeed, that’s a separate discussion altogether.

Kylie Robison: Absolutely. Will, what are your thoughts?

Will Knight: I’m going to suggest a home robot that I truly believe is beneficial. I have a cat named Leono. He’s wonderful but frequently brings various creatures, both alive and deceased, into our home at night. Often large rabbits that end up scurrying around.

Kylie Robison: Oh my gosh.

Will Knight: This cat door is equipped with a camera and computer vision technology, allowing it to detect if your cat is carrying a rat or something similar. It can say, “Contraband detected,” and stop them from entering, which I consider a positive feature.

Michael Calore: When it alerts you about contraband, do you receive an image of what your cat is holding?

Will Knight: Yes, you get a video feed of the cat’s attempts to come in. Some examples on their website are fantastic, including one with a rather large frog in its mouth.

Kylie Robison: You should create wanted posters for these animals.

Will Knight: Absolutely.

Kylie Robison: “Wanted: feline with frog in its mouth.”

Will Knight: Correct. It’s called OnlyCat, by the way. I’m genuinely intrigued by how she manages to bring these rabbits inside.

Kylie Robison: Same here.

Will Knight: I really need to set up a camera down there; they’re huge. I suspect she must go back and retrieve them, then pull them in. It has to be that way.

Kylie Robison: Wow. Free rabbit!

Michael Calore: She’s certainly putting in the effort.

Kylie Robison: Earning her keep.

Will Knight: Indeed. Now, over to you, Mike.

Michael Calore: I’d like to recommend merino wool T-shirts.

Kylie Robison: Why? I’d assume merino wool could be pretty sweaty, for some reason.

Michael Calore: Quite the opposite.

Kylie Robison: I see.

Michael Calore: It’s mid-September here in San Francisco, which we refer to as the actual summer.

Kylie Robison: Yes.

Michael Calore: It’s quite warm, making me reflect on thermal regulation. I’m also engaging in various outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing, which can get sweaty. The merino wool T-shirt has been fantastic. Several brands produce them. My colleague Scott Gilbertson from the WIRED reviews team has been evaluating a variety and regularly updates a buying guide with the best options each season. His top pick is the Proof 72-hour merino wool T-shirt. Personally, I prefer the one made by Smartwool. Merino wool excels at wicking moisture away from your skin, keeping you cooler and minimizing that sweaty feeling. Even if you’re not sweating profusely, it helps you feel fresher, plus it has natural antimicrobial qualities.