Start with the published adult-present rule and household boundaries
The KOKO Home page states that child interaction is enabled only when an adult is present. Treat that as a minimum published qualifier, not as a child-safety certification or permission to delegate supervision, discipline, emergency response, or childcare to the robot. A responsible adult remains in charge of the child, the space, and the controls.
A home evaluation can also affect visitors, caregivers, cleaners, contractors, and people audible or visible from the room. Before a session, identify who may be present, what the system may collect, which rooms and times are excluded, and how anyone can request a pause. Confirm the exact program’s privacy and operating information before activation.
Make consent understandable and renewable
Explain the evaluation in plain language before it begins: what the robot will do, where it may move, whether audio, images, video, maps, or logs are involved, who can access the information, and how someone can ask for a pause. Avoid presenting participation as a condition of visiting the home when a reasonable robot-free option can be provided.
Consent can change. A person who agreed earlier may want a private conversation, a different room, or a later visit without the system active. Children require age-appropriate explanation and adult responsibility; their curiosity should not be treated as permission to record, follow, touch, or engage them. Ask how data associated with a particular session can be reviewed or deleted.
- Give notice before activation, not after recording or movement begins.
- Name the active rooms, task, duration, data types, and responsible adult.
- Provide a simple spoken and physical way to request a pause or stop.
- Repeat the explanation when the task, data practice, software, or participants change.
Set controls that children and guests cannot accidentally override
Have the Homebot One team explain how accounts, roles, start controls, stop controls, and physical access work for the system used in the household session. Decide which adults may operate the system and keep credentials or controls from becoming a household toy. Do not invent lockout, access, or emergency behavior; verify the available controls and their limits in the current documentation.
Practice pause, stop, and recovery with responsible adults before others enter the area. Establish a rule that no one rides, pushes, pulls, blocks, decorates, feeds objects to, or intentionally surprises the robot. If the system cannot be secured during a gathering or work visit, keep it inactive and in the approved home position or another manufacturer-approved state.
Create private zones and visitor procedures
Bedrooms, bathrooms, medical conversations, financial work, children’s private areas, and guest belongings may call for strict exclusion, depending on the household. Ask what route and data controls exist and how they are verified. A closed door and a clear household rule can be part of the plan, but do not claim a technical privacy guarantee unless the product documentation supports it.
For a visitor, worker, or caregiver, state whether KOKO is active before they enter the relevant area. Provide a contact person and honor a request to keep it inactive or away. Consider remote participants too: someone on a call may not know that a device in the room can capture or process information. Follow applicable law and obtain professional advice when the situation requires it.
- List rooms and situations that always remain robot-free.
- Post or provide a clear notice when an evaluation is active.
- Pause before private calls, sensitive tasks, or unplanned visitors.
- Confirm how session data can be accessed, retained, shared, and deleted.
Review the rules after every early session
After an evaluation, ask each participant what felt clear, confusing, intrusive, or difficult to stop. Record unexpected movement, recording concerns, unclear status signals, and any situation where an adult could not maintain supervision. Treat discomfort as useful evidence, not as a problem to persuade away.
Update the household plan before the next session. The acceptable outcome may be a narrower schedule, fewer rooms, no operation around children, or no activation when guests are present. A useful home robot routine should fit the household’s boundaries and preserve human control; it should not require people to ignore uncertainty for the sake of the demonstration.
Frequently asked questions
Can KOKO supervise children?
No. KOKO Home says child interaction is enabled only when an adult is present. That qualifier does not transfer childcare, supervision, discipline, or emergency responsibility from the responsible adult.
Should guests be told when KOKO is active?
Yes. Give clear advance notice about the activity, rooms, and relevant data practices, and provide a practical way to request that the system remain inactive or away from them.
Can a child start or control KOKO?
Treat child operation as unsupported unless current Homebot One documentation defines account roles, controls, age guidance, and adult supervision for it. Restrict operation to authorized adults until then.
What rooms should be private during a KOKO evaluation?
The household should define exclusions before setup. Bedrooms, bathrooms, sensitive work or care areas, and guest spaces are common questions; confirm how current route and data controls support the plan.
Sources & further reading
From Homebot One, the team building KOKO in Fremont, California.
