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Humanoid robots are expected to appear in more homes and spend more hours in warehouses and factories next year. The makers of these bipedal robots are betting big on how they can change the world. But first the industry must overcome several major challenges standing in its way.
Let’s start with safety. Robots like Digit from Agility Robotics, which are capable of performing some work tasks autonomously, are often separated from human co-workers. Although Agility Robotics says it is working on safe human detection so that these barriers can eventually be removed, the technology is not there yet.
Digit from Agility Robotics already works shifts in different warehouses, but is separated from its human co-workers for safety.
Human beings designed for the home pose greater safety challenges, as they navigate an environment that may include children, pets, and family heirlooms. It also raises concerns about privacy, surveillance and trust.
Anything with cameras or microphones connected to the Internet carries some inherent digital risks. Combining these things in human form amounts to a strange combination of the “surveillance state” and classic “stranger danger.”
Speaking of surveillance and strangers, humanoid robots may not even be able to perform household chores independently out of the box. 1X’s Neo will need to be operated remotely by an “expert” to get started, and the company says data collected in the homes of early users will help train the robots to eventually carry out tasks autonomously. This means, at least initially, that an unknown person will control the robot in your home.
1X has already begun taking pre-orders for its Neo home robot, but early adopters shouldn’t expect autonomy.
1X says owners will have the ability to designate restricted areas of the home, opt out of sharing data with the company and schedule a specific date for remote operation. However, it is unclear how the general public will welcome this technology into their homes.
Not to mention whether the general public would actually be able to afford it. At launch, the Neo is priced at $20,000, with a future leasing option available for $500 per month.
Finally, there is the issue of how these humanoid robots, designed to perform tasks normally done by humans, will impact the labor market. It’s a common refrain that these robots can do work that not many humans want to do. But what would happen to the workers who do these jobs for a living if robots took over?
To watch our full video on the challenges facing humanoid robots in 2026, and what industry leaders are doing about them, watch the video in this article.