Stephen Katte, a contributor at Cointelegraph, reported that the AI robotics company Figure released various videos in May showcasing its robots performing tasks such as room cleaning and package sorting. While modern AI-powered robots have made impressive advancements, experts believe they are still years away from completely replacing human workers due to their incapacity to adapt to changing conditions.
The company’s humanoid robots were featured in a livestream sorting 238,000 packages over nine consecutive days, sparking discussions about the future of automation in the workplace. Oliver Obst, an associate professor of robotics at the University of New South Wales in Australia, mentioned that repetitive physical tasks in structured environments are the most susceptible to automation, whereas administrative and document-processing roles could be automated using AI technology.
Workforce consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas reported that 49,135 job layoffs in the U.S. in 2026 were attributed to AI. However, humanoid robots, although impressive, still face challenges in efficiency, speed, safety, and adaptability to unforeseen circumstances, making mass deployment unlikely in the near future.
Markus Levin, co-founder of XYO, highlighted that while AI and automation software excel at repetitive tasks, robots still require maintenance, supervision, and charging. The demand for factory robots has surged globally, particularly in warehouses and logistics, showcasing a growing trend in automation adoption.
Dr. Francisco Cruz Naranjo, a robotics expert at the University of New South Wales, emphasized the efficiency of robots in controlled settings but noted their limitations in dynamic environments. He suggested that while robots could enhance work-life balance and address labor shortages in risky environments, societal implications need to be carefully considered.
Overall, the potential mass integration of robots into the workforce could bring various benefits, such as improving work-life balance, addressing labor shortages, and enhancing safety in hazardous environments. However, the societal impact of widespread automation would require a reevaluation of existing economic structures built around employment and individual wages.
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