A robot arm with puppy dog eyes is one of Lenovo’s desktop AI concepts
Alongside a handful of new laptop concepts (and a range of actual products too), Lenovo used MWC to announce two companion AI-powered productivity concepts. Both are standalone desktop devices designed to increase productivity while providing office workers with a bit of artificial dystopian companionship.
Lenovo describes its AI Workmate concept as an “always-on desktop companion,” but it looks like a small robotic arm on a swivel base with a bulbous screen on the end displaying a pair of expressive eyes. It doesn’t look as attractive as a human colleague, but thanks to local AI processing, you can interact with the device as a smart assistant via voice commands and physical gestures.
The Workmate concept can also help you with “practical business tasks”. Below its screen is a camera that can be used to scan notes and documents to generate summaries, organize your ideas, or automatically turn them into presentations. When it’s time to share with others, the Workmate Concept even has a built-in projector that can display documents on your desk or a nearby wall.
Lenovo’s AI Work Companion concept takes a different approach to AI assistance. It looks like a bedside alarm clock with a big screen, but instead of waking you up, it leverages AI to “sync tasks and schedules across all user devices to generate a balanced daily plan.” To help prevent burnout, Work Companion monitors screen time and suggests taking breaks throughout the day, as well as fun interactions using animated faces and weekend celebrations with reports on completed tasks.
It also serves as a docking station, connecting a laptop to multiple displays via HDMI and providing plenty of USB ports to allow other devices to charge while reducing desk clutter.
