Domestic droid gone amok? Don't worry, you're covered
Insurance firms look to insulate domestic humanoid robot owners against the inevitable chaos they will bring
Two insurance companies are joining forces to introduce a new type of policy for homeowners - coverage for domestic robotic mishaps. The surge in popularity of humanoid robots has sparked concerns about potential risks, especially when these machines are performing tasks within a household setting. Some industry experts, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, predict that these robots will become commonplace in homes, factories, and other environments.
Recognizing the emerging market, UK-based Adrian Flux and Texas-based Tokio Marine HCC have partnered to launch the first domestic humanoid robot insurance policy. The offering is designed to preempt the anticipated introduction of such devices in UK households, expected to occur as early as 2027. Although currently priced around $20,000, early US models of these robots are generally less sophisticated than the nearly human elderly care robots depicted in the BBC comedy series Ann Droid.
The coverage provided by this policy includes protection for damage to the robot itself, theft of the device, and any harm caused to the home or possessions. It also extends to personal liability in the event that the android causes injury to a person or damages their property. Furthermore, the policy includes provisions for emergency recovery or safe disablement of the robot following unexpected malfunctions, such as the robot attempting to harm its owner or mishandling household items.
Gerry Bucke, general manager of Adrian Flux, notes that the advent of robots in homes necessitates clarity regarding responsibility in case of any issues. Emphasizing that this policy will be dynamic and adapted as the technology and associated risks evolve, Bucke highlights the parallels to their previous driverless car insurance policy introduced in 2016.
The potential applications of humanoids extend beyond the home, with companies like Chinese carmaker Chery utilizing them as showroom sales representatives and another firm demonstrating them in automotive manufacturing. Elon Musk has even predicted that Tesla factories could house thousands of Optimus robots by the end of 2025, considering the humanoid robot as the company's most significant product.
Written by urgent.news from The Register's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
