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Is your head still spinning from all the AI news of late? It will all seem so quaint when the useful humanoid robots arrive.
This post tracks some of the recent breakthroughs in humanoids, with a focus on the humanoid robots with Embodied AI.
Let me start with a prediction: By the end of 2024, humanoid robots with Embodied AI will be able to perform useful tasks at scale. They will be proven as useful in manufacturing, warehousing, store operations/restocking and hospital/healthcare operations. By the end of 2025, humanoid robots will proliferate into homes.
We have all been watching the rise of automation, but few will be prepared for this exponential shift.
Historical Context on Embodied AI and Humanoid Robots
Embodied AI was first used to describe the special branch of AI that focuses on how systems interact with the physical world, including AI for sensorimotor skills, autonomous navigation, real-world interactions and learning. Recently it is taking on a broader meaning. With the rise of Generative AI and the multiple research paths building towards multi-function AI, the term Embodied AI is being used to capture the concept of a robot that gives physical form to AI. A robot is the body for AI.
I have tracked humanoid robotics closely since my years as an enterprise technologist at TRW, Northrop Grumman and in government. Just over a decade ago the most advanced humanoid robotics projects were either activities funded by NASA (the most famous of which was their Robonaut project) or demonstration projects like the Asimo by Honda. Neither did anything really useful. To date, all the interesting humanoid robot demos seen on YouTube or TV have yet to do anything useful either. But the pace of news and increasing capabilities are pointing to significant progress.
Several big tech trends have enabled these advancements. Batteries are more powerful and last longer, new types of actuators require less power and weigh less, compute is more powerful, sensors are better, and new types of AI (especially deep learning) are available (many of these trends were examined in detail at OODAcon).
Developments Over The Last Six Months
In just the last six months humanoid robots have been fielded as prototypes into environments where they are co-working with humans. Humanoid robots in labs have been demonstrated with abilities to handle complex tasks like cooking, cleaning folding clothes, soldering, and making coffee. The learning by humanoid robots with embodied AI is now accelerating to the point where robots can learn by watching what humans do.
Examples of note:
Concluding Comments/Recommendations:
If you are an enterprise CIO, CTO, CISO, you should realize you will have a role in operating and maintaining all your organizational robots, including those humanoid robots with embodied AI.
We expect the most rapid uptake of the use of humanoid robots with embodied AI will be in the manufacturing sector. They will also be of increasing use in warehouses. Other use cases will come after that. If you are in these sectors see what you can do to accelerate the use of humanoids in your operation so you can use them to business advantage (if you don’t you will be disadvantaged because others will). If sell to these markets understand how this shift will change your customer buying patterns.
We mentioned the 9 companies because of what we have seen them producing, they are exemplars we believe our community should track. But review of Crunchbase shows over 12,000 companies involved in this sector. This is a very dynamic market with many firms producing in stealth. All of us should be ready for market changing surprises in this fast moving field.
The Geography of PRC Robotics: Charting China’s Robotic Future
An overview of the PRC robotics industry including robotic hub cities and companies.
Breakthroughs in Humanoid Robotics and the Dawn of Embodied AI
An in-depth look at recent technological breakthroughs in humanoid robotics and the emergence of embodied AI, discussing their potential impact on various sectors and the future of human-robot interaction.
China Has an Army of Robots on Its Side in the Tariff War
This article examines how China’s deployment of AI-powered factory robots is enhancing its manufacturing efficiency, providing a strategic advantage in international trade disputes.
Scout AI is a Silicon Valley-based defense technology startup founded in 2024, focused on developing advanced artificial intelligence for defense robotics. The company’s core objective is to build the “AI brain” for uncrewed systems, enabling robots across ground, air, sea, and space domains to operate as intelligent, mission-adaptive agents. Scout AI’s flagship product, Fury, is…
Overland AI is a Seattle-based defense technology company specializing in advanced off-road ground autonomy solutions for military and national security applications. Founded in 2022, the company’s mission is to transform land operations by delivering dependable, AI-powered autonomous vehicle technologies to the U.S. military and partner nations. Overland AI’s systems are designed to operate in complex,…
Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a robotics defense company headquartered in Austin, Texas, specializing in the development of autonomous weapon systems designed to counter the rapidly growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on the modern battlefield. ACS’s mission is to deliver advanced robotic capabilities that modernize defense operations, enhance battlefield effectiveness, and lower the…
Sanctuary AI is a Vancouver-based robotics and artificial intelligence company founded in 2018, focused on creating and deploying millions of industrial-grade humanoid robots to address global labor shortages. The company’s mission is to develop general-purpose robots with human-like intelligence and dexterity, capable of performing a broad range of tasks in environments traditionally designed for people.…
Apptronik is a Texas-based robotics company specializing in the development and commercialization of general-purpose, AI-powered humanoid robots. Founded in 2016 as a spin-out from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, Apptronik’s mission is to create human-centered robots that can work safely and efficiently alongside people. The company’s flagship product,…
1X Technologies is a robotics company specializing in the development of safe, intelligent humanoid robots designed for both household and enterprise environments. Founded in 2014 (originally as Halodi Robotics) and headquartered in Moss, Norway, with significant operations in Sunnyvale, California, 1X’s mission is to create an abundant supply of labor through general-purpose robots that can…
Agility Robotics is a leading American robotics company specializing in the development and commercialization of humanoid robots for industrial automation. Founded in 2015 as a spin-off from Oregon State University’s Dynamic Robotics Lab, the company’s mission is to build robot partners that augment the human workforce, enabling people to focus on more valuable and creative…
Figure AI is a US-based robotics company focused on developing general-purpose, AI-powered humanoid robots designed to perform a wide range of tasks in both industrial and domestic environments. Founded in 2022, the company aims to address global labor shortages by deploying humanoid robots capable of learning and executing end-to-end operations safely and autonomously. Figure’s robots…
Saronic Technologies specializes in the development of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) aimed at enhancing naval and maritime capabilities. With a focus on innovation and superior technology, Saronic is redefining maritime superiority by providing intelligent solutions designed to improve awareness, extend operational reach, and enhance survivability for naval and maritime forces. Core Technologies The core technologies…