New home tech: what changed and what's next

Explainer (last updated Sep 9, 2026) on the FCC adding foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List on July 28, 2026. New foreign-made models can't get the FCC authorization needed to be sold in the US unless they qualify for Conditional Approval. Robots you own, already-authorized models and new units of them are not affected. The definition fits most robot vacuums and can also cover robot mowers and humanoids.

Reports the FCC confirmed to The Verge that robot vacuums fall under its ban on new foreign-produced advanced robotic devices. Existing and already-approved models can still be sold. Argues few makers will qualify for a waiver because 65% of components must be sourced in the US.

Launch report on Apple's HomeView: $299, 7-inch touchscreen, Siri AI, Matter and Thread support, pre-orders from Oct 13 and availability on Nov 13. A countertop model with a speaker and a wall-mount model. Recognizes family members to show their own calendar and messages. AI video descriptions for cameras need a 2TB iCloud+ plan. Apple and LG sell a matching Apple Home Collection.

Explains that HomeView supports both Matter and Thread, so Matter accessories from other brands work with it alongside Apple HomeKit accessories. Buyers still need to check that a device is Matter-enabled.

Apple Home Collection, built by LG and Schneider Electric, goes on sale from December 2026, some items in early 2027. LG Smart Deadbolt ($349.95) unlocks via Ultra Wideband as you walk up with Home Key on iPhone or Apple Watch, has a keypad and backup key, works with Matter and locally without internet. Cameras $199.95-$399.95 (Video Doorbell Wired $249.95) recognize people, familiar faces, pets, vehicles and packages; recordings need iCloud+ ($0.99 for one camera, $2.99 for five, $9.99 unlimited), live view works without, and a HomePod, Apple TV or HomeView is required as hub.

Amazon introduced Bee Frontier ($74.99, available, worn on the wrist or clipped on) and Bee Eclipse (from $99.99, coming soon, magnetic phone attachment). They turn conversations you choose to capture into summaries and to-dos. Free tier: summaries, recaps, 14 days of memory; Bee Pro $11.99/month adds integrations including Alexa+. Amazon says raw audio is deleted after processing and users are prompted to get permission; these are company claims, not an audit.

Amazon agreed to acquire Bee, whose $49.99 bracelet recorded everything it heard unless muted, to build reminders and to-do lists. Bee said audio wasn't stored or used for training; TechCrunch notes it was unclear whether those policies would survive the Amazon deal.

HP bought Humane's staff, platform and IP for $116 million; the AI Pin stopped connecting to Humane's servers on Feb 28, 2025, ending calls, messages and AI queries. Refunds only for purchases within the original 90-day return window.

Meta acquired Limitless, maker of a conversation-recording pendant. Limitless stopped selling the pendant to new customers, supports existing users for at least another year on a free plan, shut down service in the EU, UK and several other regions, and required remaining users to accept new privacy terms.

Claude plans as listed on Oct 22, 2026: Free ($0: chat, web search, file creation and code execution, memory, connectors, Artifacts); Pro ($20/month, $17/month billed annually: more usage, Claude Code, Research, Projects, Opus models, Claude in Chrome and Microsoft 365); Max (from $100/month: 5x or 20x Pro usage, plus $100-$200 in monthly API credits). Model training is opt-out on all individual plans. Usage limits reset in five-hour windows plus weekly caps on paid plans.

Help article (read Oct 22, 2026): ChatGPT Plus is $20/month, billed monthly, no annual plan. Adds priority access, higher limits, reasoning models, voice, image generation, file analysis and deep research where available. API usage is billed separately. OpenAI may use conversations to improve models; you can opt out in Data Controls.

Help article (read Oct 22, 2026): three ChatGPT Pro plans, Pro 100 ($100), Pro 200 ($200) and Pro 500 ($500, the only one with Ultrafast models). Pro includes Pro models, Codex, deep research, image creation, memory and file uploads. New Pro 200 subscriptions get a lower usage allowance than before.

Google AI plans in the US as listed on Oct 22, 2026: Free ($0: Flash-Lite model, Deep Research, Gemini Live, 15 GB storage); AI Plus ($4.99/month, 400 GB); AI Pro ($19.99/month: Gemini 4 Argon, Pro model, Jules coding agent, Gemini in Gmail and Docs, 5 TB); AI Ultra ($99.99 or $199.99/month for 5x or 20x Pro limits, from 20 TB).

Help article (read Oct 22, 2026): plugins, on all paid plans, bundle skills, connectors and sub-agents for a role such as sales, finance or legal, and sync to Claude Code. Plugin Create helps build custom plugins. Plugins may include local MCP servers that run on your computer with the same permissions as any program, so install only from trusted sources.

Help article (read Oct 22, 2026): ChatGPT plugins bundle skills and connected apps (such as Slack) for a task; the plugin directory is available across plans, with availability depending on plan, workspace and region. Installing may start an authorization flow and can't bypass permissions. Some plugins are OpenAI Verified, which doesn't replace your own security review. Plugin Creator builds custom plugins.

Official introduction (read Oct 22, 2026): MCP is an open-source standard for connecting AI applications like Claude or ChatGPT to data sources, tools and workflows, described as "a USB-C port for AI applications". Supported by assistants including Claude and ChatGPT and by developer tools like VS Code and Cursor.

Weave opened pre-orders for Isaac 1, a wheeled two-armed robot for laundry (collect, fold, manage hampers) and tidying: $7,999 or $449/month, $250 refundable deposit, California deliveries from fall 2026 and nationwide through 2027. A remote Weave specialist takes over when it gets stuck; Weave declined to confirm whether that footage trains the robot.

Isaac 0 folds unsorted clean laundry on a tabletop in a 6 x 5 ft space in 30-90 minutes, using "a blend of autonomy and teleoperation". Weave says it handles t-shirts, shorts and long sleeves on its own but needs help with pants, underwear and pillowcases; specialists see head and wrist camera feeds, no audio. Labeled an early-release prototype; $7,999 or $450/month, $250 refundable deposit, Bay Area.

Checked 1X's order page on Oct 5, 2026: $20,000 Early Access (3-year warranty, priority delivery) or $499/month, $200 deposit described by 1X as fully refundable up to the point NEO is ready for delivery, "US Deliveries start 2026", and no announced customer delivery. Relays 1X's FAQ on Expert sessions and data: US-based 1X employees, approval per session, some sensor data sent to 1X to complete a request and not stored, opt-out of data used to improve NEO.

Samsung's Android XR Galaxy Glasses are reportedly launching in November 2026 (per The Korea Herald). They work with Galaxy phones and reportedly have cameras, speakers, microphones and Gemini. Frames with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. No confirmed price; Samsung targets a "reasonable premium" range.

Status as of July 16, 2026: no verified customer delivery; over 10,000 pre-orders reported in the first five days; deposit refundable until 14 days after the Order Invitation; international deliveries slated for 2027. Says complex chores rely on Expert Mode, that a widely shared "60-70% autonomous" figure has no primary source, and that the privacy safeguards are company claims not independently audited.

Pre-CES demo of the Roborock Saros Rover: the reviewer watched it climb a set of stairs, cleaning each step, with each wheel-leg raising and lowering independently. Roborock says it handles curved and carpeted stairs and calls it a real product in development; no on-sale date.

Affiliate roundup (updated Aug 29, 2026): neither the Roborock Saros Rover nor the Eufy MarsWalker has a confirmed US price or firm US on-sale date; both are announced, not buyable. The MarsWalker carries the Eufy Omni S2, which is on sale.