Updated 9 January 2026 at 18:01 IST
Interest in humanoid robots has boomed as companies see human-form machines as the next frontier in AI and automation.
An LG CLOiD robot stands on stage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026. | Image:
Reuters
Just four years after the launch of ChatGPT, the chatbot that brought artificial intelligence into the mainstream, and it seemed like almost every exhibitor at the CES show in Las Vegas this week was touting an AI-powered gadget. The annual event draws the biggest companies from the global tech and auto industries, who this year underscored the shift from AI software to “physical AI” with robotics, humanoids and autonomous driving technology. And while big tech laid out the blueprint for what lives and homes could look like over the next couple of years, dozens of entrepreneurs and little-known companies vied to capture attention with AI-powered doodads for tasks as varied as cutting hair and offering emotional support.
Amid all the pizzazz, investors and analysts had the task of predicting which AI-imbued hardware has the potential to be a hit with consumers and become a multi-billion-dollar business. “AI is really driving a whole innovation and demand cycle,” said Arm’s Chris Bergey, head of the chip tech firm’s unit that handles PCs, phones and other AI gadgets. Arm told Reuters exclusively that it has reorganised to create a physical AI unit to expand its presence in the robotics market.
Interest in humanoid robots has boomed as companies see human-form machines as the next frontier in AI and automation. At CES – once called the Consumer Electronics Show – robots from South Korea’s LG and others dealt games of poker, folded paper to create pinwheels and danced with attendees. However, the glacial pace at which humanoid robots performed tasks reflected challenges developers face, such as processing power, battery life and dealing with situations beyond their programming. As such, experts do not expect a viable humanoid to be available anytime soon, at least not at an affordable price.
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