Which household chores can a robot do?

Home robots are moving from demo videos into real homes. Here's what they can realistically take on, chore by chore, and what you can do now so a robot understands your home.

Can a robot do the laundry?Partly, and getting better fast.Read more →Can a robot load the dishwasher?Yes, this is one of the first chores home robots are being shown doing.Read more →Can a robot tidy up and pick up toys?Picking things up from the floor is a core skill for home robots, and tidying is one of the chores people want most.Read more →Can a robot take out the trash?Indoors, yes: emptying bins, tying bags and carrying them out is a good fit for a home humanoid.Read more →Can a robot clean the kitchen?Wiping counters and putting things away are realistic early jobs for home robots.Read more →Can a robot make the bed?Straightening a duvet and arranging pillows is a reasonable early chore.Read more →

What makes a chore easy or hard for a robot

Three things decide it. First, the objects: rigid things like plates are easier to grab than soft or tiny ones like fitted sheets and building bricks. Second, the place: one room with a clear floor is easier than stairs, outdoor paths and cluttered spaces. Third, the rules: the robot has to know where things belong, whose things are whose, and what it should never touch.

The first two get better as robots improve. The third one is about your home, and no robot can guess it. That's the part you can write down today.

Start with the chores you'd hand off first

Most people start with daily, repetitive jobs: loading the dishwasher, picking up toys, wiping counters. They're done often, they follow the same pattern, and a mistake is easy to fix. See the example task plan to see what a robot-ready plan looks like.