AI comes to life: From bartenders to surgical assistants to puppies, tomorrow’s robots are on their way

Humanoid robots are no longer just the stuff of science fiction. Imagine a world where robots not only collaborate with us in factories, but also greet us in stores, assist us in surgeries, and take care of our loved ones. With Tesla planning to deploy thousands of Optimus robots by 2026The era of humanoid robots is closer than we think.

This vision is becoming increasingly tangible as more companies showcase groundbreaking innovations. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased several examples of how robots are advancing both functionality and human-centered design. These included Adam the robot waiter From Richtech Robotics, which mixes more than 50 drinks, interacts with customers, and Tombot Inc. dogs Which wag their tails and make sounds designed to soothe seniors with dementia. While there may be a market for these and other robots displayed at the show, it is still too early for this type of robotics technology to be widely deployed.

However, real technological progress is being made in this area. This increasingly includes “human-like” robots being used Generative artificial intelligence To create more human-like capabilities – to enable robots to do so He learnsFeeling and acting in complex environments. From Optimus by Tesla to Ariya by realbotixThe next decade will see the spread of humanoid robots.

Despite these promising developments, some experts warn that achieving fully human-like capabilities is still a distant goal. Citing the shortcomings of current technology, Yann LeCun – one of the “godfathers of artificial intelligence” – said – recently argued And that artificial intelligence systems “do not have the ability to plan, think, or understand the physical world.” He added that we can’t build smart enough robots today because “we can’t make them smart enough.”

LeCun may be right, although that doesn’t mean we won’t see more humanoid robots soon. Elon Musk recently said that Tesla will produce Several thousand Optimus units In 2025, which is expected to be shipped 50,000 to 100,000 Of them in 2026. This is a significant increase from the handful that exist today that perform limited functions. Of course, Musk has been known to get his timelines wrong, like when He said in 2016 Full autonomous driving will be achieved within two years.

However, it seems clear that significant progress is being made regarding humanoid robots. Tesla is not alone in pursuing this goal, as other companies including Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, and Figer AI are among the leaders in humanoid robotics.

Business insider newly He had a conversation With Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics, saying it will soon be “pretty normal” for humanoid robots to become co-workers with humans across a variety of workplaces. Last month, the format was announced in a Share LinkedIn: “We have delivered the F.02 humanoid robots to our commercial customer, and they are currently working hard.” With significant backing from major investors including Microsoft and Nvidia, Viger will provide fierce competition to the humanoid robotics market.

Create a vision of the world

However, LeCun was right, more progress is needed before robots can have more full human capabilities. Moving parts in a factory is easier than navigating complex, dynamic environments.

The current generation of robots faces three main challenges: processing visual information quickly enough for real-time interaction; Understanding hidden signals in human behavior; and adapt to unexpected changes in their environment. Most humanoid robots today rely on cloud computing, and the resulting network latency can make simple tasks like picking up an object difficult.

One company working to overcome current limitations in robotics is startup World Labs, founded by “AI Godmother” Fei Fei Li. Talk to Wired“The physical world of computers is seen through the cameras, and the computer mind is behind the cameras,” he told me. Transforming this vision into thinking, generation, and ultimately interaction involves understanding the physical structure and physical dynamics of the physical world. This technology is called spatial intelligence.

New-generation AI enhances spatial intelligence by helping robots map their surroundings in real time, just as humans do, and predict how things will move or change. Such advances are essential to creating humanized autonomous robots capable of navigating complex real-world scenarios with the adaptability and decision-making skills needed to succeed.

While spatial intelligence relies on real-time data to build mental maps of the environment, another approach is to help a robot infer the real world from a single static image. As shown in A Previously published paperGenetic World Explorer (GenEx) uses artificial intelligence to create a detailed virtual world from a single image, simulating how humans make inferences about their surroundings. While this capability is still in the research phase, it will help robots make split-second decisions or navigate new environments with limited sensor data. This would allow them to quickly understand and adapt to spaces they have not experienced before.

The ChatGPT moment for bots is coming

While World Labs and GenEx push the boundaries of AI inference, Nvidia’s Cosmos and GR00T address the challenges of equipping humanoid robots with real-world adaptability and interactive capabilities. universe It is a family of AI “global basis models” that help robots understand physics and spatial relationships, while GR00T (Generist Robot 00 Technology) allows robots to learn by watching humans – much like an apprentice learns from a teacher. Together, these technologies help robots understand what to do and how to do it naturally.

These innovations reflect a broader push in the robotics industry to provide humanoid robots with cognitive and physical adaptability. GR00T could enable humanoid robots to assist in healthcare by monitoring and simulating medical professionals, while GenEx may allow robots to navigate disaster zones by inferring environments from limited visual input. As reported Daily investor business“The ChatGPT moment for bots is coming,” said Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia.

Another company working on creating actual AI models is Google DeepMind. Timothy Brooks, a research scientist there, to publish This month on X about the company’s plans to create large-scale genetic models that mimic the physical world.

These emerging models of the physical world will better predict, plan, and learn from experience, all essential capabilities for future humanoid robots.

The robots are coming

In early 2025, humanoid robots will largely become prototypes. In the near term, they will focus on specific tasks, such as manufacturing, logistics and disaster response, where automation provides immediate value. Broader applications such as caregiving or retail interactions will come later as the technology matures. However, advances in artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering are accelerating the development of such a humanoid robot.

Consulting firm Accenture recently noted the development of a whole range of robotics hardware, software, and AI models specifically designed to create machine autonomy in the human world. in “Technology Vision 2025“Over the next decade, we will begin to see robots casually and commonly interacting with people, working their way through unplanned tasks, and taking action autonomously in any type of environment,” the company report states.

Wall Street company Morgan Stanley estimated The number of humanoid robots in the United States could reach eight million by 2040 and 63 million units by 2050. The company said that in addition to technological advances, long-term demographic shifts leading to labor shortages may help drive development and adoption.

Building trustworthy robots

Beyond purely technical obstacles, potential societal objections must be overcome. Without addressing these concerns, public skepticism may hinder the adoption of humanoid robots, even in sectors where they offer clear benefits. To succeed, deployed humanoid robots must be seen as trustworthy, and people must believe they are helping society. like male by MIT Technology Review“Few people would feel warm and comfortable with such a robot if it walked into their living room right now.”

To face challenges with confidence, researchers are exploring how to make robots seem more connected. For example, engineers in Japan created a face mask from human skin cells and attached it to robots. According to a study published last summer and I mentioned by New York Times“Human-like faces and expressions improve communication and empathy in human-robot interactions, making robots more effective in healthcare, service and companionship roles,” the study’s lead researcher said. In other words, a human-like appearance will improve confidence.

In addition to appearing trustworthy, humanoid robots will always need to behave ethically and responsibly to ensure human acceptance. In public spaces, for example, humanoid robots equipped with cameras may inadvertently collect sensitive data, such as conversations or facial details, raising concerns about surveillance. Policies that ensure transparent data practices will be critical to mitigate these risks.

next decade

In the near term, humanoid robots will focus on specific tasks, such as manufacturing, logistics and disaster response, where automation provides immediate value. These specialist roles highlight their existing strengths in regulated environments while broader applications, such as healthcare, care delivery and retail operations, will emerge as the technology matures.

As humanoid robots become more visible in everyday life, their presence will profoundly impact and potentially reshape human interactions and societal norms. Beyond performing tasks, these machines will be integrated into the social fabric, requiring humans to navigate new relationships with technology. Its adoption could alleviate labor shortages in societies with aging populations and improve efficiency in service sectors, but it may also raise discussions about job displacement, privacy, and human identity in an increasingly automated world. Preparing for these transformations will require not only technological progress, but also thoughtful societal adaptation.

By addressing the challenges and leveraging the efficiency and adaptability of humanoid robots, we can ensure that these technologies serve as tools for progress. Shaping this future doesn’t just fall to policymakers and technology leaders – it’s a conversation for everyone. Public engagement will be essential to ensure humanoid robots enhance society and meet real human needs.

Gary Grossman is Executive Vice President of Technology Practice at Edelman and global leadership of the Edelman AI Center of Excellence.