Foldimate’s laundry-folding machine actually works now

January 26, 2020

Back in 2018, Foldimate was one of two laundry-folding machines exhibiting at CES that promised to make folding clothes a thing of the past. It was up against Laundroid, a $16,000 AI-powered machine that was supposed to analyze each clothing item and figure out the best way to fold it using AI. Neither machine worked at the time— Foldimate’s model was a non-working prototype, and I accidentally broke the Laundroid when I confused the machine’s AI with a black T-shirt. This year, Foldimate is the sole laundry-folding machine at CES, returning for the third time with a fully working prototype.

I clipped in my Verge T-shirt to the machine, which pulled in the shirt and produced a neatly folded shirt in about five seconds. Foldimate says that you can fold an entire load of laundry in about five minutes, which includes collared shirts, pants, and medium-sized towels. It won’t be able to fold smaller clothes like baby items or oversized bed linens, but still, it’s a start. If I’ve learned anything from Marie Kondo, it’s that folding my laundry is the first step to fixing my (imaginary) dysfunctional marriage.

Foldimate’s availability is still up in the air, as the company enters the costly manufacturing process. The company says it’s working to keep the machine under $1,000, which is still a pretty big investment for a home (especially if it doesn’t have too much space), but the machine could be useful in retail spaces and laundromats. Still, the most impressive part about Foldimate is that it’s now closer to escaping CES vaporware territory, and I’m eating my (neatly folded) shorts now.

Get caught up: Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak

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January 26, 2020

A pedestrian wears a surgical mask as he checks his phone while walking along London's Regent Street in central London on Jan. 25. European airports from London to Moscow stepped up checks Wednesday on flights from the Chinese city at the heart of the coronavirus that has killed 41 people and spread to the United States. — A pedestrian wears a surgical mask as he checks his phone while walking along London’s Regent Street in central London on Jan. 25. European airports from London to Moscow stepped up checks Wednesday on flights from the Chinese city at the heart of the coronavirus that has killed 41 people and spread to the United States. NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP via Getty Images

The Wuhan coronavirus continues to spread around the world having already killed dozens of people and infecting hundreds in China.

In the US, the first cases of coronavirus were confirmed this week; a man in his 30s who is under observation in Washington state and a Chicago woman in her 60s.

Get caught up on the latest developments below:

Outbreak is accelerating in China: Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting with top officials of the ruling Communist Party on the prevention and control of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, China’s state media reported Saturday. During the meeting, Xi pointed out that in facing the grave situation of the rapid spreading epidemic of the deadly new coronavirus, it is necessary to strengthen the centralized leadership of the Party Central Committee.
Number of confirmed cases rise: Confirmed cases of coronavirus in China and around the world now stand at more than 1,400 globally. China has already restricted travel for more than 30 million people, a move considered unprecedented. Medical facilities are struggling in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, as authorities race to build a new hospital dedicated to treat those affected.
CDC gets involved: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is involved in a coordinated US government effort to help US citizens leave Wuhan. “Department of State has the lead for the safe and expedient ordered departure of all US citizens from Wuhan, China. CDC is aware and coordinating in the planning,” CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund told CNN.
Trump thanks Xi: President Trump tweeted his thanks to Xi and China’s efforts to contain the Wuhan coronavirus. A second case of Wuhan coronavirus in the United States was identified in Chicago, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday in a news briefing.
Events cancelled: A marathon that was due to take place in Hong Kong in a couple of weeks has been canceled by its organizers amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers’ said. The event’s 70,000 participants will get refunds. This comes as Hong Kong raised its response level to the virus to “emergency,” and the city’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam said all large-scale events, including the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, will be canceled.

CNN’s Holly Yan contributed to this report.