A Brief History of Robotics
Robotics began in the 20th century with simple machines designed for repetitive tasks. The first industrial robot, Unimate, joined General Motors’ assembly line in 1961, lifting heavy parts with mechanical precision. For decades, robots relied on traditional programming—detailed, pre-set instructions coded by humans. These scripts dictated every move, from welding a car frame to vacuuming a floor, leaving no room for adaptability. Unlike today’s AI-driven systems, these robots couldn’t learn or adjust to new situations; they were fast, strong, but rigid, controlled entirely by human-defined rules.
The AI Revolution
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are advancing rapidly, transforming industries and daily life. AI robots—machines combining smart software with physical capabilities—are now at 90% of artificial general intelligence (AGI), meaning they’re nearly as capable as an average human. From factories to homes, these technologies are no longer distant dreams but current realities.
Humanoid Robots Take Centre Stage
Humanoid robots, built to resemble and function like people, are surging. Early 2025 saw breakthroughs, with companies in China, Germany, Norway, and the U.S. leading the way. These robots operate in factories—like Foxconn and Audi—handling tasks such as assembling cars or shifting materials, often 24/7 without lights. Robot AI models now already exist like Figure AI’s Figure 03, Unitree’s H1, and 1X’s Neo Gamma also manage home duties, from brewing coffee to stocking fridges. Prices range from $30,000 to $40,000, though competition may soon lower them to $10,000 or less.
The Power of AI Brains
Driving these robots are large language models (text-to-text LLMs)—advanced AI systems powering intelligence. In 2025, 43 new LLMs have emerged, adding to a total of 539. Top performers, including Open AI’s O3, Anthropic’s Claude 3.7, and China’s DeepSeek R1, excel on tough tests, scoring up to 90% where humans average 65% or lower. Unlike older models reliant on vast data, newer ones “reason” through problems, boosting efficiency and fuelling a cost-effective tech race.
AI in Action: Autonomy and Impact
AI’s autonomy is growing with “agentic” systems that tackle tasks—like managing paperwork or navigating cities—without scripts. Self-driving taxis already roam San Francisco, adapting to obstacles in real time, while military AI analyses maps and are making decisions for U.S. forces. Globally, AI is filling millions of warehouse and factory jobs, replacing repetitive work but raising questions about employment.
The Next Frontier: Superintelligence
At 90% AGI, the next step is artificial superintelligence (ASI)—AI surpassing all human intellect. Experts predict it this to likely arrive between 2026 to 2027, potentially inventing new energy sources or curing diseases. Robots might self-repair or build each other, driving costs towards zero and reshaping economies.
Challenges and Questions
This progress brings risks. AI robots will disrupt jobs, from drivers to analysts, though new roles may arise. Safety is sound for consumer models, but hacking or misuse—especially in military applications—poses dangers. An AI arms race is happening, with nations integrating AI into government and defence, echoing Cold War tensions. Legally, robots lack rights, but ethical debates simmer.
Today’s AI Powered Robots
- Figure AI’s Figure 03 (and Figure 02)
- A humanoid robot from California, USA, used in companies and homes, powered by the Helix model (7-8 billion parameter vision-language model). Capable of tasks like loading a fridge and cooperating with other robots.
www.figure.ai
- A humanoid robot from California, USA, used in companies and homes, powered by the Helix model (7-8 billion parameter vision-language model). Capable of tasks like loading a fridge and cooperating with other robots.
- Unitree H1
- A humanoid robot from China, noted as one of the leading models in the field.
www.unitree.com/h1
- A humanoid robot from China, noted as one of the leading models in the field.
- 1X Neo Gamma (or Gamma)
- A humanoid robot from Norway, backed by Open AI. Fully clothed, performs fine tasks like peeling plastic off a phone and household chores such as making coffee or sorting wardrobes.
www.1x.tech/discover/introducing-neo-gamma
- A humanoid robot from Norway, backed by Open AI. Fully clothed, performs fine tasks like peeling plastic off a phone and household chores such as making coffee or sorting wardrobes.
- Tesla Optimus
- A humanoid robot from Tesla, USA, a result of initial development of an advanced robot to help out with car manufacturing.
www.tesla.com/en_eu/AI
- A humanoid robot from Tesla, USA, a result of initial development of an advanced robot to help out with car manufacturing.
- UBTech Walker S1
- A humanoid robot from China, powered by DeepSeek R1, deployed in Volkswagen, Audi, BYD, and Foxconn factories.
www.ubtrobot.com/en/humanoid/products/Walker
- A humanoid robot from China, powered by DeepSeek R1, deployed in Volkswagen, Audi, BYD, and Foxconn factories.
- Opentrons Apollo
- A humanoid robot powered by Google DeepMind, designed to build and repair itself, deployed on its own production line.
www.apptronik.com/apollo
- A humanoid robot powered by Google DeepMind, designed to build and repair itself, deployed on its own production line.
- Boston Dynamics (Atlas)
- New fully electric Atlas robot designed for real-world applications.
www.bostondynamics.com/blog/electric-new-era-for-atlas
- New fully electric Atlas robot designed for real-world applications.
A Glimpse Ahead
In a decade, by 2035, Will will be seeing AI robots in homes, space exploration, and healthcare, seamlessly blending superintelligence with physical prowess. Today’s advancements—touch-sensitive fingers, reasoning AI, autonomous vehicles—are just the beginning, signalling a world where machines not only match but far exceed human potential.
In homes, humanoid robots could become as common as refrigerators. Current robot models like Figure AI’s Figure 03 or 1X’s Neo Gamma, already capable of brewing coffee and stocking fridges in 2025, might evolve into fully autonomous assistants. Imagine a robot that cooks dinner, folds laundry, and tutors your kids in maths—all while learning your preferences and adapting to your routine. With prices potentially dropping to $10,000 or even near zero as self-repairing robots emerge (like the Opentrons Apollo powered by Google DeepMind), every household could afford one. These machines would work tirelessly, needing no breaks, lights, or wages, reshaping how we live.
In space, AI robots will likely be leading humanity’s next frontier. Building on NASA’s current rovers, future models might mine asteroids, build lunar bases, or repair satellites without human oversight. Picture a fleet of superintelligent robots, powered by successors to Open AI’s O3 or DeepSeek R1, designing and constructing Martian habitats—tasks too complex or dangerous for astronauts. Their ability to reason through uncharted problems, as seen in 2025’s LLMs scoring 90% on tough science tests, could unlock new discoveries, like harnessing extraterrestrial energy sources, pushing humanity beyond Earth.
In healthcare, AI robots with touch-sensitive hands—like Sanctuary AI’s 2025 prototypes—might perform surgeries with precision beyond human surgeons, guided by ASI systems that diagnose conditions instantly. These machines could analyse vast medical data in seconds, invent new treatments, or even resolve mental health issues, as speculated in the transcript. Wheelchair-bound patients might walk again with robotic exoskeletons, while elderly care shifts to tireless, empathetic robots that monitor vitals and chat like old friends—all at a fraction of today’s costs.
Artificial superintelligence (ASI)—will be helping to change our future. Smarter than any human, ASI is already helping science, technology, and will enable telepathic communication via brain-machine interfaces. Factories purely run by robots already exist, driving production costs to near zero. This economic shift might challenge traditional jobs—drivers, factory workers, even analysts could fade—but there will be new roles to take their place, like in AI design, ethics, and interstellar planning.
Yet, this future isn’t flawless. An AI arms race is heating up between the U.S. and China in 2025, with military robots making autonomous decisions on battlefields. Safety hinges on unhackable systems, while ethical questions loom: should superintelligent machines have rights? AI’s potential is limitless, but its direction—utopia or chaos—depends on how we steer it. In 10 years, we might live alongside machines that outthink, outbuild, and outlast us, transforming everything from the mundane to the cosmic.
