- Humanoid robots are slowly but steadily entering human workplaces
- Labor shortages are driving automation toward roles people constantly avoid
- China leads robot production as Europe anchors precision supply chain
An increase in recent deployments in manufacturing environments shows that humanoid robots are no longer confined to experimental settings, and evidence now points to a shift towards real-world use, new research claims.
A new report from Barclays claims that advances in artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering now allow human-shaped robots to operate outside tightly controlled laboratories.
These machines are now being tested on production lines, warehouses and other workplaces designed with human movement and reaching in mind.
Labor shortages and unwanted work
Labor shortages in several sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and healthcare, are a key factor driving this change, as employers struggle to attract workers for repetitive, physically demanding or dangerous roles.
Population aging, urban migration, and changes in job preferences continue to reduce the supply of workers willing to perform physically demanding or repetitive jobs.
These pressures create gaps that existing automation systems cannot fully address, opening the door to humanoid robots.
Humanoid robots differ from previous machines because designers build them to function in human environments rather than requiring redesigned spaces.
They include legs, arms and sensors and, in theory, can move through narrow spaces, climb stairs and switch between tasks without major redesigns.
Recent advances in motion perception and control software have reduced previous flaws that limited practical use, particularly errors related to object recognition and spatial judgment, and other artificial intelligence tools also play a central role in allowing these systems to respond to unstructured environments.
Another contributing factor is that production costs have fallen from millions of dollars a decade ago to approximately $100,000 today.
Developers attribute this reduction to progress in computer hardware, batteries, and especially actuators, which translate digital commands into motion.
Like electric cars, manufacturers are already building humanoid robots at scale 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 recognizes that wide-scale adoption is neither guaranteed nor imminent.
Energy efficiency still lags behind human performance, implementation costs remain high, and dependence on critical minerals introduces supply risks.
Similar claims 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 forecasts and initial testing 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, undesirable functions.
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