The debut of the robot butler NEO has drawn widespread ridicule . Unable to perform many chores without a remote human operator , the machine has become a target of social media backlash. Videos circulating online show the robot struggling with basic tasks, such as closing a dishwasher .

But don’t underestimate the potential of robotic housekeepers just yet.

The technology is dawning at an opportune time. Consider the growing concerns about plummeting birth rates. Last year saw the lowest fertility rate ever recorded in the United States, below 1.6 children per woman.

Could robots help to reverse the trend by relieving the burden of work associated with child-rearing?

The question has broad implications because the United States’ low fertility is no anomaly. Globa

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