Robots have worked in factories for decades, but tech companies are now pouring billions into machines shaped like people. Here’s why, what they can actually do, and how far they are from your home or workplace.
Robots are already common in industry. Robotic arms weld car bodies, sort parcels and assemble electronics. But most are designed for one task, bolted in place and kept away from people.
Humanoid robots are different. They’re built with a human-like shape, usually with two legs, two arms with hands, and a head containing cameras and sensors.
Why a human shape?
The main argument is that the world is designed for humans. Factories, warehouses, homes and offices are full of stairs, doors, shelves, tools and controls made for human bodies.
A robot with a human form could, in theory, work in those spaces and use those tools without them having to be redesigned. It could also be taught tasks by watching humans.
Who’s building them
Tesla is developing a humanoid robot called Optimus, which Elon Musk has said could eventually be its most valuable product.
U.S. start-up Figure has raised billions of dollars and tested its robots in car factories. Boston Dynamics, famous for videos of robots doing backflips, has developed a new electric version of its Atlas robot. Companies such as Agility Robotics are testing robots in warehouses.
China has made humanoid robots a national priority. Companies such as Unitree sell humanoid robots at much lower prices than Western rivals, and Chinese cities have held robot sporting events to showcase the technology.
The role of AI
The biggest change has come from artificial intelligence. Instead of programming every movement, developers are using AI models trained on huge amounts of video, simulations and demonstrations to teach robots to recognise objects and carry out tasks.
That has made robots better at handling unfamiliar situations, although they’re still far less capable and adaptable than humans.
The challenges
Humanoid robots are expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars or more. Batteries limit how long they can work. They’re slower than people at most tasks, and making them safe to work alongside humans is difficult.
Many demonstrations are carefully staged or remotely controlled, so it can be hard to judge how capable they really are.
The bigger questions
If humanoid robots become cheap and capable, they could help fill labour shortages in areas such as manufacturing, logistics and aged care, especially in countries with ageing populations.
But they also raise questions about jobs, safety, privacy and who controls the technology. Most analysts expect robots to be used first in factories and warehouses, with household robots much further away.
