The Hermy journey
A few milestones. Quite a few prototypes.
01 The early days Held together by possibility. At last, our first prototype worked. There were wires everywhere and very little pretending otherwise. But somewhere in that tangle was Hermy.
At last, our first prototype worked. There were wires everywhere and very little pretending otherwise. But somewhere in that tangle was Hermy.
02 The night before the pilot A bright idea. Half a bright idea. The night before our pilot, I decided Hermy needed an LED ring. One small finishing touch. The battery disagreed, and half the LEDs stayed dark. Apparently, enthusiasm is not a unit of electrical power.
The night before our pilot, I decided Hermy needed an LED ring. One small finishing touch. The battery disagreed, and half the LEDs stayed dark. Apparently, enthusiasm is not a unit of electrical power.
03 February 2026 A table in the real world. We took him into restaurants. He accepted real orders and could tell which drinks were still full and which were empty. Our little experiment had a job.
We took him into restaurants. He accepted real orders and could tell which drinks were still full and which were empty. Our little experiment had a job.
04 During the pilots An unplanned takeaway. Guests wanted to take Hermy home. Some did, without permission. It was a setback, but it also pointed towards a different future: a robot people wanted to live with.
Guests wanted to take Hermy home. Some did, without permission. It was a setback, but it also pointed towards a different future: a robot people wanted to live with.
An early face Taking shape 05 Prototypes 02–05 A character takes shape. A second prototype. Then a third, a fourth and a fifth. As we moved towards consumers, we kept refining the design and set a new requirement: Hermy had to have a character, even without an internet connection.
A second prototype. Then a third, a fourth and a fifth. As we moved towards consumers, we kept refining the design and set a new requirement: Hermy had to have a character, even without an internet connection.
06 Finding his voice A conversation, with a face. Natural mouth movements were a big milestone. Speech and expression could finally work together, making Hermy feel much more like someone you could talk to.
Natural mouth movements were a big milestone. Speech and expression could finally work together, making Hermy feel much more like someone you could talk to.
Campus visual 07 Campus · Soft launch Room for a few more skills. Using Hermy as our own personal assistant made us want more skills. So we built the Campus: a home for the agents he uses. We’re testing it now, and it has already generated $40,000 in sales pipeline for other businesses. A result we’re proud of.
Campus visual
Using Hermy as our own personal assistant made us want more skills. So we built the Campus: a home for the agents he uses. We’re testing it now, and it has already generated $40,000 in sales pipeline for other businesses. A result we’re proud of.
Product visual 08 Preparing for production From prototype to product. PEZY BV joined us to help turn Hermy into a product we can manufacture and certify. The next chapter involves all the work that makes a promising prototype ready for production.
Product visual
PEZY BV joined us to help turn Hermy into a product we can manufacture and certify. The next chapter involves all the work that makes a promising prototype ready for production.
09 September 2026 A few new faces at IFA. We’re taking Hermy to fairs, meeting people and showing what he can do. This short visit to IFA is one of those moments outside the workshop.
We’re taking Hermy to fairs, meeting people and showing what he can do. This short visit to IFA is one of those moments outside the workshop.
10 Right now A little soul. A little spotlight. We’re making films, sharing demos and getting Hermy in front of more people. He has even sung “I’ve Got a Little Soul in Me.” Apparently, personal assistance was only the beginning.
We’re making films, sharing demos and getting Hermy in front of more people. He has even sung “I’ve Got a Little Soul in Me.” Apparently, personal assistance was only the beginning.