iRobot's bankruptcy protection filing shakes the tech industry.

iRobot, founded in 1990 by MIT robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks and others, officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 14, 2025. The company, which launched the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner, was once a symbol of the smart home. However, due to supply chain issues, increased market competition, and the failure to be acquired by Amazon, iRobot ultimately had to relinquish control to its main supplier, PICEA Robotics.