Humanoid robots are having a moment, but still face an uphill battle

The article explores the resurgence of interest in humanoid robots, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Venture capitalists are now investing in this previously overlooked sector. The Humanoids Summit brought together experts from companies like Disney and Google to showcase and discuss the potential of these machines. Researchers believe that humanoid or embodied AI will become commonplace, though the timeline is uncertain. Disney’s walking Olaf robot is a notable demonstration of humanoid technology. Skepticism lingers regarding the rapid development of truly humanlike robots, especially concerning dexterity. Companies are competing globally, with China leading due to government support and a focus on an "humanoid ecosystem." Advances in generative AI have boosted the robotics industry, with visual-language models improving robots' task performance. Rodney Brooks, co-founder of iRobot, is skeptical about the rapid advancement of dexterity in current humanoids. The article highlights the potential of general-purpose robots in workplaces and other settings. The comparison is made to the early days of self-driving cars, suggesting a similar trajectory for humanoids. The Association for Advancing Automation is urging the U.S. to develop a strong national strategy to support domestic robotics development.