As voice recognition technology matures, artificial intelligence housekeepers are beginning to play an increasingly important role. Duo, a startup from New York, is bringing us a product that used to be firmly in the realm of fairytale – a “magic mirror”. This mirror won’t tell you who’s the fairest of them all, but through voice commands, it can control various electrical appliances in the home, check the weather and show you the latest news.

The mirror form factor quickly merges with an artificial intelligence system because it’s already integrated into the home environment, as one of the most commonly used household objects. Just say “Albert” to Duo, and it will start handling your chores; and when the AI system is not needed, it can always function as a mere ornament, a mirror on the wall. Duo features a 27-inch HD 1080p display mirror, and at just 1.9 mm thin and weighing only 3.6 kg it can easily hang on the wall. Other smart devices at home such as an air conditioner, hi-fi, or front door security camera respond via the 5-point multi-touch screen. Through voice recognition, you can check the latest news headlines and stream music and video. Duo runs on the dedicated HomeOS operating system; look for apps specifically built for Duo such as a speech-controlled version of Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Soundcloud shortly. Interestingly, Duo can even download a series of paintings, transforming the mirror into an art piece to suit the vibe of your space.