Humanoid Robots: The Future Amid Doubts
For a long time, Silicon Valley investors have been hesitant about robotics investments, labeling them as complex and costly—almost, as venture capitalist Modal Alaoui puts it, “frankly boring.”
However, the recent surge in artificial intelligence has reignited interest in the long-imagined concept of humanoid robots that can mimic human actions.
During the Humanoids Summit this week, Alaoui gathered over 2,000 attendees, including leading robotics engineers from companies like Disney and Google, to showcase innovations and discuss the future of this emerging industry.
Alaoui noted that many in the research field are beginning to think that humanoid and other AI physical embodiments “will become the norm.” But then there’s the lingering question—how long will it actually take to achieve this?
Disney, for instance, is working on a walking robot version of Olaf from Frozen, set to wander the Disneyland parks in Hong Kong and Paris next year.
While we’ve seen some robots that are funny and complex, the idea of a universal robot that can function effectively in homes and workplaces remains a distant goal.
Amid talks to generate excitement for this technology at the Computer History Museum, skepticism about the immediate viability of human-like robots was palpable.
Cosima du Pasquier, the CEO of Haptica Robotics, emphasized the challenges ahead, stating, “There’s a very big mountain to climb in the humanoid space.” She acknowledged that extensive research is still required.
Representatives from McKinsey & Company have identified around 50 companies globally that have secured at least $100 million for humanoid development, with a significant number in China and North America.
Ani Kelkar from McKinsey pointed out that China is currently ahead, largely due to government incentives that promote robot manufacturing and deployment and the recent initiative to “establish a humanoid ecosystem by 2025.”
At the summit, many exhibitors were from Chinese companies, with Unitree’s humanoid robots gaining notable attention, partly because they are affordable and often purchased by U.S. researchers for software testing.
The rise of AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT is actively reshaping the robotics landscape, drawing significant investment into startups aiming to create hardware that will give contemporary AI a physical presence. Yet, the advancements aiding chatbots are also proving beneficial in teaching robots to execute tasks; combined with computer vision, these robots can utilize “visual language” models to learn about their surroundings.
Rodney Brooks, a robotics innovator and co-founder of iRobot, remains a notable skeptic. He wrote recently that current humanoid robots are unlikely to master dexterity, despite the large financial commitments from tech giants and investors.
No one at the summit mentioned Elon Musk’s work on the humanoid robot called Optimus. Musk stated three years ago that this robot would be available for purchase within three to five years.
Alaoui, who has previously designed driver attention systems in the automotive sector, likens the development of humanoids to the early days of self-driving technology. Nearby, at the summit venue, an exhibit showcases Google’s initial self-driving car prototype from 2014. In just over a decade, autonomous taxi services by Waymo have become a reality.
Some robots with human-like features are being trialed for workplace use. Agility Robotics, based in Oregon, recently disclosed plans to introduce its Digit robot for package handling at a logistics site managed by Mercado Libre in Texas.
Similar to Olaf, Digit has legs that resemble birds rather than humans.
While industrial robots focused on specific tasks are commonplace—especially in automotive manufacturing—their speed and precision surpass that of both current humanoids and even human workers.
The head of a robotics association established in 1974 is now advocating for a more robust national strategy in the U.S. to boost the development of domestic robots, whether humanoid or not. Jeff Bernstein, president of the Association for the Advancement of Automation, expressed the potential of U.S. technology and AI expertise, noting the need to see who ultimately leads in this arena, as “China definitely has more momentum in terms of humanoid robots” for now.
