Whisker’s AI-powered litter robot thinks my cats swapped bodies
The author reviews the Litter-Robot 5 Pro, a high-end automated litter box that utilizes AI and facial recognition to track multiple cats. Despite the advanced technology, the reviewer finds that the device struggles to accurately distinguish between their two pets.
Why it matters
This highlights the limitations of consumer-grade AI and facial recognition technology when applied to non-human subjects in domestic settings.
The greatest invention in pet tech in recent years is the litter robot. A machine that scoops your kitties’ poop so you don’t have to — what else could a cat owner possibly want? How about insights into your kitty’s litter box usage that could flag health issues? Sign me up. But I have two feline friends… No worries, kitty facial recognition can handle that.
At least, that is the idea behind the Litter-Robot 5 Pro, the highest-end model from the OG robotic pooper scooper company Whisker. Boasting a dual camera system and an array of sensors to literally sniff out your cat’s deposits, all wrapped up with AI algorithms and machine learning, the 5 Pro promises to not only deal with my boys’ bathroom habits but also accurately monitor and track them. It failed.
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