With workforce shortages worsening in developed nations, especially in elderly care, robotics companies are aiming to integrate humanoid robots to handle tasks traditionally performed by humans, according to a new research from ResearchandMarkets.com.
As the number of available workers declines due to aging populations and low birth rates, robots are increasingly viewed as a solution to fill critical labour gaps, particularly in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe, it said in a press release.
Humanoid robots are expected to take on tasks in industries facing acute workforce shortages, especially in roles often considered difficult or undesirable. The 2022 release of ChatGPT by OpenAI marked a “turning point in automation,” the company stated, enabling robots to work independently by harnessing generative AI to make decisions and execute tasks without extensive preprogramming.
“Humanoid robots will play a crucial role in taking on dangerous and undesirable tasks, while filling worker gaps. While these robots will require advanced support systems to work alongside humans, their acceptance by society remains the biggest unknown,” ResearchandMarkets.com noted.
According to ResearchandMarkets.com, the humanoid robot market is developing rapidly, with companies like Tesla and UBtech pushing for market dominance. Tesla’s Optimus robot is slated for mass production by 2027, and UBtech is leveraging years of research and development toward commercial applications. Start-ups, including Figure AI and Agility Robotics, are also gaining traction, while established firms like Nvidia and OpenAI are driving AI innovations for these robots. Japan and China have already made significant progress in robot integration into daily life, while Europe has advanced industrial robotics, notably through German manufacturer KUKA, which was acquired by Chinese appliance giant Midea in 2016.
The focus on humanoid robots stems from their ability to navigate and perform tasks within human environments, an advantage over other types of robots, according to industry experts. Robots equipped with wheels, for example, can face challenges on stairs or uneven surfaces, while robots without arms cannot perform certain tasks such as opening doors. Human-shaped robots, however, can mimic human movement and conduct tasks that interact with the same spaces humans use.
Generative AI has further refined these capabilities by enabling robots to perform tasks via natural language instructions, enhancing interaction between humans and robots. Figure AI’s Figure 01, for instance, was the first humanoid robot integrated with OpenAI’s models, and Alter3 recently became the latest humanoid powered by GPT-4, allowing for more intuitive interactions with human operators.