Humanoid Robots Gain Attention at Silicon Valley Summit Amid Skepticism

Humanoid robots took center stage at the Silicon Valley summit held at the Computer History Museum on Thursday and Friday. The event, organized by Modar Alaoui, attracted over 2,000 attendees, including top robotics engineers from companies like Disney and Google.

Alaoui noted that the commercial boom in artificial intelligence has reignited interest in developing humanoid robots that can perform tasks like humans. Disney showcased a walking robotic version of the Frozen character Olaf, set to appear in Disneyland theme parks in Hong Kong and Paris next year.

Despite the excitement, skepticism about the practicality of humanoid robots remains high, with experts emphasizing the significant challenges that still exist. Cosima du Pasquier, founder and CEO of Haptica Robotics, pointed out the considerable research needed to create robots with a sense of touch.

According to McKinsey & Company, around 50 companies globally have raised at least 100 million dollars to develop humanoids, with China leading the charge due to government incentives. The summit also highlighted the prevalence of Chinese firms, particularly Unitree, which is popular among U.S. researchers for its affordable models.

Investor enthusiasm has surged following advancements in generative AI chatbots, which have inspired startups to create hardware that can give AI a physical presence. However, robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks expressed skepticism about the current capabilities of humanoid robots, citing their lack of dexterity despite substantial investment.

The summit featured discussions on the future of humanoids, with Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, calling for a stronger national strategy to advance U.S. robotics technology.

While industrial robots performing specific tasks are common in manufacturing, the timeline for general-purpose humanoid robots remains uncertain.