The short version
- Matic has released an update enabling users to direct the vacuum to specific messes using hand gestures and natural language voice commands.
- The gesture feature utilizes existing on-device cameras, while new voice capabilities require cloud processing via Google's Gemini API.
- This software launch precedes a significant price increase for the hardware, raising the cost from $1,245 to $1,495 in September.
Matic has introduced a major software update for its robot vacuum line that adds gesture-based navigation and enhanced voice control capabilities. The new feature set, branded as Matic Cues, allows owners to point at specific debris or areas to initiate spot cleaning without using a smartphone application. This development arrives just days before the company implements a substantial price increase on its hardware, raising the retail cost from $1,245 to $1,495 starting September 9.
The gesture control mechanism represents a distinct departure from standard industry practices. Most competing robot vacuums rely on users drawing zones within a mobile app or issuing generic voice commands that target the user's general location. Matic’s approach leverages five cameras already installed on the device to track hand movements. After activating the robot with a wake word, the unit turns toward the speaker and awaits a pointing gesture followed by a verbal command such as clean here.
Testing indicates the visual tracking system performs reliably for broad areas but requires physical adjustment for precision. Users aiming at small spills or tight spaces may need to crouch lower to ensure the camera captures the intended target accurately. Gesturing from a standing position tends to trigger cleaning of a wider radius, which can extend the duration of the task. The system also supports a follow-me mode, allowing the robot to track the user as they move to different locations before initiating cleanup.
Voice interaction has been significantly expanded through integration with Google’s Gemini API. This allows for natural language processing rather than rigid command structures. Users can issue complex instructions such as vacuuming only hard floors or cleaning baseboards in specific rooms. The assistant also handles chained commands, executing multiple tasks in sequence across different areas of the home before returning to its charging dock.
This update introduces a notable shift in Matic’s data handling policies. The company previously emphasized that its devices operated entirely offline, preserving user privacy by keeping all processing on the local hardware. While the wake word detection remains on-device and does not transmit ambient audio, the actual voice commands are now sent to the cloud for interpretation. A short chime alerts users when data is leaving the device.
Matic executives state that transmitted voice data is anonymized and processed to support a wide range of languages and command variations. The company plans to migrate the most frequently used commands back to local processing in future updates. Until then, users must opt into the new features manually, with the ability to disable microphones and cloud connectivity through the device settings if they prefer the previous offline-only operation.
The founders of Matic, both former computer vision engineers from Google Nest cameras, have been developing the gesture recognition technology since 2017. This background explains the reliance on visual cues rather than traditional lidar or camera mapping for spot cleaning. The feature is available to all existing Matic robot owners as a free update, accessible through the settings menu in the companion application.
The timing of this release suggests an effort to add value before the hardware becomes more expensive. Early reviews indicate that the gesture control solves a common frustration with imprecise app-based zone drawing. However, the trade-off between convenience and privacy remains a consideration for users who previously chose Matic specifically for its offline capabilities. The new voice assistant does not respond verbally but confirms actions via a small display on the robot itself.
Competitors such as Roborock and Ecovacs offer onboard voice assistants that process data locally, but these often require memorizing specific phrases. Matic’s natural language approach appears more intuitive in initial tests, though it depends on internet connectivity. As the price point rises, the added functionality will likely be a key factor for new buyers deciding between Matic and other premium robot vacuum options on the market.
The update is scheduled to roll out fully by August 13 at 2 pm ET. Users can enable Matic Cues immediately through their app settings. The company has not announced further hardware changes accompanying this software release, focusing instead on maximizing the utility of existing camera and microphone arrays before the cost increase takes effect next month.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Verge↗You can now just point at a mess and this robot vacuum will suck it up
