Humanoid robots set to revolutionize workforce by 2030

In its recent article, LiveScience reveals that humanoid robots are rapidly evolving, with several models pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in robotics. 

If you're concerned about humanoid robots replacing your job by 2025, there's no need to panic just yet. The few commercially available models are slow, clumsy, and primarily suited for repetitive tasks that humans tend to dislike, such as lifting a 20-pound (9-kilogram) object onto a conveyor belt.

In five years, we will see humanoid robots on the market that combine the agility of Atlas, the emotional intelligence of Ameca, the manual dexterity of Phoenix, the intellect of Figure 02, and the style of Optimus. Here are seven robots that pushed the boundaries in 2024.

The co-founders of Apptronik were involved in the NASA Valkyrie robot project from 2012 to 2013. Drawing from that prestigious background, they created Apollo, a versatile humanoid robot standing 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall.

Apollo is considered "general purpose" because it has the potential to assist with elderly care or work in a factory, with a partnership with Nvidia allowing it to use artificial intelligence (AI) to learn new skills simply by observing humans perform tasks. However, this is still in the future. For now, Apollo remains a prototype, although Apptronik is collaborating with Mercedes-Benz to test it in factory settings.

Like many robots on this list, Agility Robotics' Digit is designed to perform repetitive tasks in industrial environments such as warehouses. What sets it apart, however, is that it is already in use. At GXO Logistics' facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, you'll find this hardworking robot moving boxes weighing up to 35 pounds (16 kg) from autonomous delivery units onto a conveyor belt.

That said, Digit isn't the most sleek or stylish robot. Its 5-foot 9-inch (1.75-meter) frame is largely characterized by backward-facing legs that help it stand close to racks, with its only concession to a more friendly look being a pair of rectangular LED "eyes" (which, in reality, use Lidar and Intel RealSense depth cameras for environmental detection). Digit is available for purchase at $36,000.

Much like Tesla's Optimus Bot, the Figure 02 looks as though it could have walked out of a science fiction movie. Add laser beam eyes, and we'd be truly intimidated. That is, until we saw this 5-foot 6-inch (1.68-meter) robot walk—or more accurately, shuffle—and talk.

Figure 02 is the only robot on our list capable of speech, using OpenAI's large language models (LLM). This means you can ask it for food, and it will hand you an apple, or chat with it just as you would with ChatGPT.

With its dexterous fingers and ability to learn from its mistakes, this is one of the most advanced humanoid robots out there. However, it remains unclear when it will move beyond the prototype stage.

Ameca, developed by Engineered Arts, takes a different approach compared to others on this list, featuring realistic hands and a face capable of expressing emotion. With flexible skin, lifelike eyes, and the option of on-board or cloud-based AI, Ameca can greet you with a cheerful smile and quickly respond to questions. A key distinction is that Ameca can't walk yet. Instead, it is designed to be modular, meaning it could be fitted with wheels or purchased (or rented) as just a torso and head.

Don’t mess with Atlas. Created by Boston Dynamics, this 5-foot (1.5-meter) humanoid robot boasts remarkable balance — it can even rise from a prone position to standing with relative grace. However, its Cyclops-like eye, which dominates its head, may not aid its ability to interact with humans.

To add to its intimidating abilities, Atlas can run at 5.6 mph (9 km/h), jump, and even perform backflips. Unlike the other robots on this list, its extraordinary balance also enables it to tackle difficult terrain.

Equipped with AI-enhanced vision to perform tasks autonomously, and a pair of simple yet flexible claw-like hands, it's easy to picture Atlas carrying out a variety of tasks. However, it remains in the prototype phase for now.

Tesla impressed attendees at its "We, Robot" event in October 2024, showcasing the latest generation of its sleek humanoid robot serving drinks — only for it to be revealed that humans were controlling the robot's hands, which were so precise they could make a cocktail.

However, it’s only a matter of time before the combination of AI and advanced sensors allows these 5-foot, 8-inch robots, scheduled for deployment in Tesla factories sometime in 2025, to truly live up to the expectations. With Tesla's vast resources and access to cutting-edge AI, battery technology, and components, we believe the Optimus Gen 2 should be recognized as the most complete and advanced humanoid robot available today.

By Naila Huseynova