Today, Explained One billion humanoid robots
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May 7, 2026 
Ken Goldberg, UC Berkeley robotics professor and artist, explains why grasping and manipulation are so hard for robots. James Vincent, tech journalist who’s met multiple humanoids, describes different designs and industry hype. They discuss real-world demos, balance tests, why companies favor human-like forms, and how AI advances fuel lofty timelines and big promises.
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Meeting Robots That Stand Back Up
- James Vincent met humanoid robots from Agility Robotics and Aptronic and tested their balance by pushing them with a stick.
- One prototype staggered, recovered, and trotted back, creating an uncanny humanlike moment that convinced him the machines felt real.
Trying To Knock Over A Prototype
- James Vincent tried to kick or shove a prototype to test balance but was given a padded stick for safety.
- He pushed hard; the robot staggered and recovered, demonstrating lifelike equilibrium and resilience.
AI Is Powering The Humanoid Moment
- The current humanoid boom is driven by advances in AI that let robots learn behaviors from data instead of manual programming.
- Companies hope foundation models will transfer chatbot-style learning to physical tasks, but the physical world introduces risk and complexity chatbots don't face.