IRobot: Difference between revisions

Line 11:

==Background==

iRobot was founded in 1990 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner, & Rodney Brooks. The company initially focused on military & industrial applications before launching the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002. By 2016, iRobot held 64% of the global robotic vacuum market, though that declined to 46% by 2022 due to competition from Chinese manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-05-15 |title=Roborock vs iRobot vs Ecovacs - The Robot Vacuum Wars |url=https://www.nanalyze.com/2022/05/roborock-vs-irobot-vs-ecovacs/ |access-date= |website=Nanalyze}}</ref>

iRobot was founded in 1990 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner, & Rodney Brooks. The company initially focused on military & industrial applications before launching the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002. By 2016, iRobot held 64% of the global robotic vacuum market, though that declined to 46% by 2022 due to competition from Chinese manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-05-15 |title=Roborock vs iRobot vs Ecovacs - The Robot Vacuum Wars |url=https://www.nanalyze.com/2022/05/roborock-vs-irobot-vs-ecovacs/ |access-date= |website=Nanalyze |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211072230/https://www.nanalyze.com/2022/05/roborock-vs-irobot-vs-ecovacs/ |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>

The company went public in 2005 & has sold over 50 million robots.<ref>{{cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Form 10-K IROBOT CORP |url=https://investor.irobot.com/static-files/21c7681f-4daa-4bd2-aa06-623d06adf00f |access-date= |website=SEC.gov |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215065522/https://investor.irobot.com/static-files/21c7681f-4daa-4bd2-aa06-623d06adf00f |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> WiFi connectivity became standard in the 600 series & above starting in the mid-2010s, making the majority of Roombas sold in the past decade dependent on cloud services for premium features.

Line 47:

==Privacy practices & data collection==

===2017 data monetization controversy===

In July 2017, CEO Colin Angle made statements to Reuters suggesting the company could share or sell customer home mapping data to major technology companies within two years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/25/150346/your-roomba-is-also-gathering-data-about-the-layout-of-your-home/ |title=Your Roomba Is Also Gathering Data about the Layout of Your Home |website=MIT Technology Review |date=2017-07-25 |access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref> Reuters reported Angle said iRobot ''"could reach a deal to sell its maps to one or more of the Big Three [Amazon, Apple, Google] in the next couple of years"'' & that while the company would not sell data without permission.<blockquote>Angle told Reuters that iRobot would not give out the mapping data it collects without customers’ permission, which is good. That indicates that if and when this starts happening, there will be a notice to users, and that they’ll have a clear chance to refuse consent (though Angle expressed confidence that people would agree).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Following quick consumer backlash, iRobot issued formal clarifications claiming Reuters ''"misinterpreted"'' the comments. The company's July 28-29, 2017 statement declared: <blockquote>''"First things first, iRobot will never sell your data. Colin never said that iRobot would look to sell customer maps or data to other companies."<ref>{{cite web |date=2017-07-29 |title=Amazon acquires Roomba: iRobot CEO says they will never sell your data {{!}} ZDNET |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ |access-date= |website=zdnet}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260213203832/https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ Archived])</ref>'' </blockquote>In a September 2017 follow-up interview with IEEE Spectrum, Angle clarified: "We don't even remember your map unless you tell us we can."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |title=iRobot CEO Colin Angle on Data Privacy and Robots in the Home |website=IEEE Spectrum |date=2017-09-07 |access-date=2025-11-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114134348/https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>

In July 2017, CEO Colin Angle made statements to Reuters suggesting the company could share or sell customer home mapping data to major technology companies within two years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/25/150346/your-roomba-is-also-gathering-data-about-the-layout-of-your-home/ |title=Your Roomba Is Also Gathering Data about the Layout of Your Home |website=MIT Technology Review |date=2017-07-25 |access-date=2025-11-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206082733/https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/25/150346/your-roomba-is-also-gathering-data-about-the-layout-of-your-home/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Reuters reported Angle said iRobot ''"could reach a deal to sell its maps to one or more of the Big Three [Amazon, Apple, Google] in the next couple of years"'' & that while the company would not sell data without permission.<blockquote>Angle told Reuters that iRobot would not give out the mapping data it collects without customers’ permission, which is good. That indicates that if and when this starts happening, there will be a notice to users, and that they’ll have a clear chance to refuse consent (though Angle expressed confidence that people would agree).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Following quick consumer backlash, iRobot issued formal clarifications claiming Reuters ''"misinterpreted"'' the comments. The company's July 28-29, 2017 statement declared: <blockquote>''"First things first, iRobot will never sell your data. Colin never said that iRobot would look to sell customer maps or data to other companies."<ref>{{cite web |date=2017-07-29 |title=Amazon acquires Roomba: iRobot CEO says they will never sell your data {{!}} ZDNET |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ |access-date= |website=zdnet}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260213203832/https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ Archived])</ref>'' </blockquote>In a September 2017 follow-up interview with IEEE Spectrum, Angle clarified: "We don't even remember your map unless you tell us we can."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |title=iRobot CEO Colin Angle on Data Privacy and Robots in the Home |website=IEEE Spectrum |date=2017-09-07 |access-date=2025-11-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114134348/https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Current data collection practices===

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Background==
-iRobot was founded in 1990 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner, & Rodney Brooks. The company initially focused on military & industrial applications before launching the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002. By 2016, iRobot held 64% of the global robotic vacuum market, though that declined to 46% by 2022 due to competition from Chinese manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-05-15 |title=Roborock vs iRobot vs Ecovacs - The Robot Vacuum Wars |url=https://www.nanalyze.com/2022/05/roborock-vs-irobot-vs-ecovacs/ |access-date= |website=Nanalyze}}</ref>
+iRobot was founded in 1990 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner, & Rodney Brooks. The company initially focused on military & industrial applications before launching the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002. By 2016, iRobot held 64% of the global robotic vacuum market, though that declined to 46% by 2022 due to competition from Chinese manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-05-15 |title=Roborock vs iRobot vs Ecovacs - The Robot Vacuum Wars |url=https://www.nanalyze.com/2022/05/roborock-vs-irobot-vs-ecovacs/ |access-date= |website=Nanalyze |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211072230/https://www.nanalyze.com/2022/05/roborock-vs-irobot-vs-ecovacs/ |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>
 The company went public in 2005 & has sold over 50 million robots.<ref>{{cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Form 10-K IROBOT CORP |url=https://investor.irobot.com/static-files/21c7681f-4daa-4bd2-aa06-623d06adf00f |access-date= |website=SEC.gov |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215065522/https://investor.irobot.com/static-files/21c7681f-4daa-4bd2-aa06-623d06adf00f |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> WiFi connectivity became standard in the 600 series & above starting in the mid-2010s, making the majority of Roombas sold in the past decade dependent on cloud services for premium features.
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 ==Privacy practices & data collection==
 ===2017 data monetization controversy===
-In July 2017, CEO Colin Angle made statements to Reuters suggesting the company could share or sell customer home mapping data to major technology companies within two years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/25/150346/your-roomba-is-also-gathering-data-about-the-layout-of-your-home/ |title=Your Roomba Is Also Gathering Data about the Layout of Your Home |website=MIT Technology Review |date=2017-07-25 |access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref> Reuters reported Angle said iRobot ''"could reach a deal to sell its maps to one or more of the Big Three [Amazon, Apple, Google] in the next couple of years"'' & that while the company would not sell data without permission.<blockquote>Angle told Reuters that iRobot would not give out the mapping data it collects without customers’ permission, which is good. That indicates that if and when this starts happening, there will be a notice to users, and that they’ll have a clear chance to refuse consent (though Angle expressed confidence that people would agree).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Following quick consumer backlash, iRobot issued formal clarifications claiming Reuters ''"misinterpreted"'' the comments. The company's July 28-29, 2017 statement declared: <blockquote>''"First things first, iRobot will never sell your data. Colin never said that iRobot would look to sell customer maps or data to other companies."<ref>{{cite web |date=2017-07-29 |title=Amazon acquires Roomba: iRobot CEO says they will never sell your data {{!}} ZDNET |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ |access-date= |website=zdnet}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260213203832/https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ Archived])</ref>'' </blockquote>In a September 2017 follow-up interview with IEEE Spectrum, Angle clarified: "We don't even remember your map unless you tell us we can."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |title=iRobot CEO Colin Angle on Data Privacy and Robots in the Home |website=IEEE Spectrum |date=2017-09-07 |access-date=2025-11-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114134348/https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>
+In July 2017, CEO Colin Angle made statements to Reuters suggesting the company could share or sell customer home mapping data to major technology companies within two years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/25/150346/your-roomba-is-also-gathering-data-about-the-layout-of-your-home/ |title=Your Roomba Is Also Gathering Data about the Layout of Your Home |website=MIT Technology Review |date=2017-07-25 |access-date=2025-11-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206082733/https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/25/150346/your-roomba-is-also-gathering-data-about-the-layout-of-your-home/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Reuters reported Angle said iRobot ''"could reach a deal to sell its maps to one or more of the Big Three [Amazon, Apple, Google] in the next couple of years"'' & that while the company would not sell data without permission.<blockquote>Angle told Reuters that iRobot would not give out the mapping data it collects without customers’ permission, which is good. That indicates that if and when this starts happening, there will be a notice to users, and that they’ll have a clear chance to refuse consent (though Angle expressed confidence that people would agree).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Following quick consumer backlash, iRobot issued formal clarifications claiming Reuters ''"misinterpreted"'' the comments. The company's July 28-29, 2017 statement declared: <blockquote>''"First things first, iRobot will never sell your data. Colin never said that iRobot would look to sell customer maps or data to other companies."<ref>{{cite web |date=2017-07-29 |title=Amazon acquires Roomba: iRobot CEO says they will never sell your data {{!}} ZDNET |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ |access-date= |website=zdnet}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260213203832/https://www.zdnet.com/article/exclusive-roomba-ceo-responds-to-spying-story/ Archived])</ref>'' </blockquote>In a September 2017 follow-up interview with IEEE Spectrum, Angle clarified: "We don't even remember your map unless you tell us we can."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |title=iRobot CEO Colin Angle on Data Privacy and Robots in the Home |website=IEEE Spectrum |date=2017-09-07 |access-date=2025-11-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114134348/https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-irobot-ceo-colin-angle-on-privacy-and-robots-in-the-home |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>
 ===Current data collection practices===