Famed roboticist and iRobot founder Rodney Brooks believes the world is just not quite ready for humanoids yet — and he’s not alone. In a recent essay, Brooks warned that investors may be fueling a humanoid robot bubble, pouring billions into companies like Figure AI without addressing the core limitations of the technology.
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Brooks argues that humanoids still can’t master dexterity — the fine hand movements required for real-world tasks. Without this skill, he says, even the most advanced humanoid robots may struggle to perform meaningful work, let alone justify their sky-high valuations.
A Growing Investment Bubble
Venture capital interest in humanoids has skyrocketed over the past two years. Investors are betting big on a future where humanoid robots become part of everyday life — from factories to homes.
But not everyone is convinced. Several robotics-focused VCs and AI scientists told TechCrunch that the world is just not quite ready for humanoids yet. Many believe widespread adoption could still be a decade or more away.
Practical Challenges Ahead
Fady Saad, general partner at Cybernetix Ventures and co-founder of MassRobotics, echoed similar skepticism. Beyond space exploration — where humanoids could replace astronauts in high-risk environments — Saad doesn’t see many viable commercial use cases today.
“People are impressed with what humanoids can do right now,” Saad said. “But we’re still skeptical about how useful they’ll really be — and how much revenue they can generate in the near term.”
The Safety and Trust Problem
Another major barrier? Safety and trust. Saad points out that having humanoids work alongside humans on factory floors — or worse, inside homes — raises serious concerns.
“If one of these machines fell on a child or pet, it could be dangerous,” he explained. “And what happens if it gets hacked? What if it malfunctions in the middle of the night and starts breaking things?”
These are not small issues. For humanoids to gain acceptance, they’ll need to prove they can operate safely, reliably, and ethically in human environments.
While companies like Figure AI, Tesla, and Agility Robotics continue to push the boundaries of humanoid development, experts agree: the technology is fascinating but not yet ready for real-world integration.
The hype around humanoids reflects a broader pattern in tech — where investor excitement sometimes outpaces practical reality. As Brooks and others suggest, patience may be the key. Innovation takes time, especially when it’s trying to mimic human behavior.
Humanoid robots may one day transform industries and daily life — but for now, it seems the world is just not quite ready for humanoids yet. Until the technology matures, experts urge investors and the public to temper expectations and focus on building the foundations for a safer, smarter robotic future.
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