Familiar Machines & Magic

Familiar Machines & Magic's Culture

About Familiar Machines & Magic

Familiar Machines & Magic is creating artificial life to build a more caring world. If AI is going to live with us, emotional intelligence cannot be an afterthought. The next generation of intelligent machines will need to understand more than commands; they'll need to understand social context. We're developing the underlying models and hardware for emotionally intelligent, physical AI that can "read a room" and operate safely in the physical world. Familiars are the first step. A Familiar is a warm presence that learns your goals, reinforces healthy routines, and seeks to support you in your daily life.

Our Culture

Our Mission and Principles are at the core of everything we do, and they guide us through work that hasn't been done before. The path is often unclear, so it takes creativity and a get-it-done mentality from all of us. It's hard work, and it's fun to do hard things (well). We've put a lot of thought into how we work together, and we've written it down. We share set days in the office, and Wednesdays are our no-meetings day. We think of ourselves as a World Cup Team, with high expectations of each other grounded in trust and respect. Feedback here is kind and candid, so you'll know where you stand. Another of our Principles, Nobody Waits, Nothing is Sacred, shapes how we build. Research, character design, technology, and manufacturing all happen in parallel, which means we often make decisions with incomplete information and stop a path when it's time to move on. We're a tight-knit team across Boston, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and China, and we like spending time together. Have Fun is one of our Principles too, and you'll see it in company offsites and events, team lunches, and the moments in between.