Rise of the robots: the slow march of Musk's humanoid helpers

Although AI and visions of a mixed-reality future have dominated headlines this year, advancements in robotics have yet to live up to the hype. But with an increasing number of robot projects becoming tech unicorns, working alongside a humanoid robot colleague could be much closer than you might think.

Tesla first revealed plans for a project involving the Optimus robot at its Artificial Intelligence Day event in 2021. Elon Musk proudly suggested that the humanoid robot could be available in factories as soon as 2022. Predictably, beyond the grandiose statements, there have been a series of delays.

We had to wait until the beginning of 2024 to see Optimus in action when a video emerged of it folding a T-shirt in a factory under the supervision of its human master. By April, Tesla's robot Optimus could be seen strolling around a laboratory with human-like movement.

This arguably signaled the moment that brought to life the concept of humanoid robots designed to complete repetitive or dangerous tasks in areas such as warehousing and manufacturing.

Optimus strolling around the lab pic.twitter.com/E25ttHGsF0

undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 24, 2024

Musk initially predicted that the robots would be able to perform routine tasks in factories by the end of 2024, which would pave the way for Tesla to start selling Optimus robots in 2025.

Many took these words with a pinch of salt because Musk's overexcitement has traditionally led to his mouth writing a check that the rest of his team can't cash. For example, in 2019, he laid out a vision of a network of autonomous cars by 2020. But in July 2024, further design changes mean the unveiling of the so-called "robotaxi" remains on hold.

With this in mind, we shouldn't be surprised to learn that Musk recently recalibrated our expectations for the humanoid robot rollout. Optimus robots are now scheduled for low production for internal use at Tesla next year to "hopefully" move into higher production in 2026.

Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026

undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 22, 2024

Optimus is just one example of the rise of the robot trend. 1X is another AI robotics company producing robots capable of human-like movements and behaviors. A recently released video highlights how EVE robots worked together to clean up our office. However, one commentator pointed out that one of the robots attempted to hide the coffee spill with a cloth instead of cleaning it.

Humanoid helpers or job terminators?

It is challenging to think of any sci-fi films that positively portray a tech-fueled future. By contrast, it's easy to reflect on the fictional narratives about the dangers of trusting technology to run everything or how nations are destined to be destroyed by the weapons or technology they built to protect themselves.

Rather than replacing humans with robots, Figure is another AI robotics company trying to solve the critical labor shortage. The company states there are 10 million job vacancies across the United States, with 7 million openings concentrated in warehouses, transportation, and retail. These essential roles keep our society functioning. Yet, only 6 million individuals are available to step into these positions, and even then, workers are leaving these jobs at an unprecedented rate.

Many warehouse suppliers believe they are at risk of exhausting their potential workforce. The question isn't just about filling jobs anymore; it's evolving into a conversation about reimagining our entire approach to work and education and the value we place on these crucial roles.

Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon, Nvidia, and Intel Capital and valued at $2.6BN, Figure is a name you can expect to hear much more of in the future. Although the technology is still in its infancy, a recent slow and steady use case at BMW impressed many by already being able to self-correct its mistakes.

The robot revolution: promise vs reality in the modern workplace

An army of humanoid robots arriving in the workplace to eliminate dangerous, repetitive, and tedious tasks will divide audiences, much like anything Elon Musk says in public. But the biggest problem is the broken promises that technology will make our lives easier and allow us to spend time on what matters.

Slack didn't kill email. It merely moved text communication and demands for instant replies elsewhere. Additionally, the ability to work from anywhere means many workers feel they can no longer disconnect from the workplace and are left feeling permanently tethered to the office.

Big tech also proudly celebrates the automation of menial and repetitive tasks so we can focus on more value-added activities. But it often skips over the fact that it will disproportionately affect lower-skilled workers, potentially widening economic inequality. The human workers being replaced might need more newly required skills and have limited access to education or retraining opportunities.

As we race toward this inevitable future, employers and governments need to talk less about shiny new tech and more about their mutual responsibilities regarding society's future.

While the sight of a faceless humanoid robot feels slightly sinister and reminiscent of a Hollywood movie in which we all know how the story ends, I remain optimistic. After all, even the Terminator taught us that if we can teach a machine to value human life, maybe we can, too.