The Verge: The Litter-Robot 5 Pro's AI features failed to recognize cats
During a six-month test, the Litter-Robot 5 Pro robotic cat litter box from Whisker was unable to reliably distinguish between two different cats or accurately track data on their visits and weight. This is according to a review by The Verge of the $899 device, which is equipped with cameras, sensors, and AI features to monitor the cats’ well-being.
The device automatically sifts through the litter after a cat exits, moving waste into a sealed container. The app allows you to remotely control most of the litter box’s functions, check litter and waste levels, and view readings from the built-in scales. According to the reviewer, the Litter-Robot 5 Pro performs its basic cleaning task well: it has a larger waste container, more intuitive controls, and a more spacious dome than the Litter-Robot 4.
At the same time, the Cat ID system—which is designed to identify a cat based on an image from the front-facing camera and link visits to its profile—confused two animals that differed significantly in appearance. Specifically, one cat’s weight might be recorded under the other cat’s profile. Subsequently, the device displayed the same weight for both cats, and correcting the data—resetting the readings, reassigning visits, and adjusting the video log—required manual intervention.
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The WasteID feature, designed to distinguish between types of waste and trigger cleaning more quickly after defecation, also functioned erratically. According to Whisker, the gas sensor that detects feces was malfunctioning in the tested unit. The company attempted to fix the problem remotely and later suggested that the results might have been affected by malfunctions in the scales. According to the manufacturer, replacing the device is necessary to resolve these issues.
The $8-per-month Whisker Plus subscription includes AI-powered health monitoring and video storage features. Whisker has also added the “Patterns” feature, which summarizes daily data on the cat’s weight, number of visits, and time spent in the litter box. However, according to the reviewer, the system still did not provide details about the type of waste. She also noted that the internal cameras only allow for live viewing, while recordings are saved only from the front-facing camera.
The Verge does not recommend paying extra for the Litter-Robot 5 Pro’s AI features as long as they are unreliable. The publication notes that the standard Litter-Robot 5 model costs $100 less, lacks cameras, but retains other features, including WasteID.
