Will a reliable and general household robot be developed before January 1st, 2030?

Question

The development of general-purpose robots capable of performing household chores has been a long-standing goal in the field of robotics. Such a robot would need to be versatile, adaptable, and capable of handling a wide range of tasks and environments commonly found in American homes. Achieving this level of capability remains a significant challenge.

Will a general household robot capable of performing household chores to a high level of reliability be developed before January 1st, 2030?

Resolution Criteria:

This question will resolve to "YES" if, before January 1st, 2030, a general household robot is developed anywhere in the world and has been publicly and credibly documented to have:

Demonstrated the ability to autonomously navigate and operate within a variety of residential environments, including:

a. Identifying and avoiding obstacles, such as furniture and pets. 
b. Maneuvering through doorways, hallways, and multi-level spaces. 
c. Adapting to different floor types and surface conditions (e.g., carpet, tile, hardwood). 
d. Recognizing and safely handling fragile objects, such as glassware or delicate appliances.

Exhibited proficiency in performing a comprehensive range of standard household chores, including at least 5 of these complete chores:

a. Cleaning tasks, such as vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, dusting, and tidying up clutter. 
b. Laundry tasks, including sorting, washing, drying, folding, ironing, and putting away clothes. 
c. Dishwashing tasks, like loading and unloading a dishwasher, or washing, drying, and putting away dishes by hand. 
d. Cooking tasks, such as meal planning, ingredient preparation, cooking, and serving. 
e. Maintaining indoor plants, including watering, pruning, and repotting. 
f. Basic pet care, such as feeding, grooming, and cleaning up after pets.

Shown the ability to adapt to user preferences and instructions, including:

a. Learning and adjusting to individual household routines and schedules. 
b. Following specific instructions regarding cleaning methods, food preparation, or pet care. 
c. Recognizing and responding to verbal and non-verbal cues from household members.

Demonstrated a high level of reliability and safety while performing these tasks, with:

a. Consistently high-quality results that meet or exceed the performance of most humans performing the same tasks, within 500% of the average time it takes humans to perform these tasks.
b. A low rate of errors, accidents, or damages to the home or its contents. More specificially, it is required that, when given full instructions, the robot can fail no more than 5% of the time on average while completing a designated chore. A fail counts as any error that would require human intervention to fix, as otherwise the chore would not be completed to even a minimum level of satisfaction.
c. The ability to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations, such as electrical hazards or fire risks.

The development must be accompanied by independent reviews, testimonials, or high-quality case studies documenting the robot's performance in real-world residential settings, demonstrating its ability to perform tasks consistently and effectively, with a high level of satisfaction among users.

I will use my discretion when resolving this question, possibly in consultation with experts, to ensure that the criteria are met and that the general household robot is indeed capable of performing standard household chores to a high level of reliability.

Manifold Markets · Answer

Roughly even odds — Manifold Markets prediction market estimates a 51% chance (681 traders, as of Apr 5, 2026).