- Humanoid robots are slowly but surely moving into human workplaces
- Labor shortages push automation into roles people systematically avoid
- China leads robot production while Europe anchors precision supply chain
An increase in recent deployments in manufacturing environments shows that humanoid robots are no longer confined to experimental environments, and evidence now points to a move toward real-world use, according to new research.
A new report from Barclays says advances in artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering now allow human-shaped robots to operate outside of tightly controlled laboratories.
These machines are currently being tested on production lines, in warehouses and in other workplaces designed around human movement and reach.
Labor shortages and unwanted work
Labor shortages in several sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and healthcare, are a key driver of this change, as employers struggle to attract workers for repetitive, physically demanding or dangerous positions.
An aging population, urban migration, and changing job preferences continue to reduce the supply of workers willing to perform physically demanding or repetitive work.
These pressures create gaps that existing automation systems cannot fully fill, opening the door to humanoid robots.
Humanoid robots differ from earlier machines because designers build them to operate in human environments rather than requiring redesigned spaces.
They include legs, arms and sensors and can theoretically move through narrow spaces, climb stairs and switch between tasks without major redesign.
Recent advances in perception and motion control software have reduced previous failures that limited practical use, particularly errors related to object recognition and spatial judgment, and other AI tools also play a central role in enabling these systems to respond to unstructured parameters.
Another contributing factor is that production costs have increased from millions of dollars a decade ago to around $100,000 today.
Developers attribute this reduction to advances in computer hardware, batteries and especially actuators, which translate digital commands into motion.
As with electric cars, manufacturers are already building large-scale humanoid robots in China, but Europe continues to supply many of the high-precision mechanical components that allow these machines to operate reliably.
Despite the growing attention, Barclays acknowledges that widespread adoption is neither guaranteed nor imminent.
Energy efficiency still lags behind human performance, deployment costs remain high, and reliance on critical minerals introduces supply risks.
Similar demands in recent years have unsettled many workers, although there is little cause for alarm.
Humanoid robots are expected to take on tasks that many people already avoid, but the report relies heavily on predictions and early trials rather than long-term operational data.
This leaves open questions about reliability, regulation, and whether these machines will spread widely across industries or remain limited to narrowly defined and undesirable roles.
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