Over the past year, the buzz around AI has skyrocketed, and humanoid robotics has become a hot topic. Both startups and tech giants are diving into this space, envisioning machines that can serve as assistants, companions, and even take on tasks we’d rather avoid.
Tesla has been making waves with its Optimus robot. CEO Elon Musk has ambitious plans, aiming to build 10,000 of these robots this year. At CES, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang showcased the Isaac GR00T Blueprint, designed to train these machines for industrial and manufacturing roles. Not to be left out, Apple is reportedly exploring humanoid robotics, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Figure AI has been in the spotlight recently. The company entered a deal with OpenAI last year but exited the partnership to focus on a “major breakthrough” with its own in-house AI. Founder Brett Adcock hinted at unveiling “something no one has ever seen on a humanoid” in the next 30 days. The company raised $675 million last year at a valuation of $2.6 billion, with backing from Nvidia, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
However, not everyone is convinced about the practicality of humanoid robots in enterprise settings. Rhonda Dibachi, CEO of manufacturing-as-a-service company HeyScottie, believes that while the manufacturing and industrial sectors are ripe for robotic innovation, the market for humanoid robots in enterprises is relatively small. She points out that in manufacturing, unnecessary features can drive up costs and pose safety risks. “A robot should be built for the purpose that it’s supposed to serve,” Dibachi says. “There’s no reason why a warehousing and logistics robot has two arms.”
Dibachi suggests that humanoid robots might find more suitable applications in general-purpose markets, such as retail or companionship roles. But safety remains a significant barrier. The unpredictable nature of AI-driven robots, known as “non-deterministic” behavior, poses challenges. “I think it will be very difficult to fast-track any kind of truly autonomous AI – any kind of general-purpose installation,” she notes.
While the excitement around humanoid robotics is palpable, it’s essential to balance innovation with practicality and safety considerations. As the technology evolves, it will be interesting to see how these machines integrate into various sectors and what roles they’ll ultimately play.