Humanoid robots are 'stepping out of the lab and into the real world' to take the jobs we don't want - so get ready for the rise of the robot coworkers

• Humanoid robots are slowly but steadily moving into human workplaces
• Labor shortages are pushing automation into roles people consistently avoid
• China leads robot production while Europe anchors the precision supply chain

A rise in recent deployments across manufacturing environments shows humanoid robots are no longer confined to experimental settings, and evidence now points to a shift toward real-world use, new research has claimed.

A new Barclays report states advances in artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering now allow robots with human-like forms to operate outside tightly controlled labs.

These machines are now undergoing testing on production lines, in warehouses, and in other workplaces designed around human movement and reach.

Labor shortages and unwanted work

Labor shortages across several sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and healthcare, are a key factor driving this shift, as employers struggle to attract workers for repetitive, physically demanding, or hazardous roles.

Aging populations, urban migration, and changing job preferences continue to reduce the supply of workers willing to perform physically demanding or repetitive work.

These pressures create gaps that existing automation systems cannot fully address, which opens the door for humanoid robots.

Humanoid robots differ from earlier machines because designers build them to function within human environments rather than requiring redesigned spaces.

They include legs, arms, and sensors, and in theory can move through narrow spaces, climb stairs, and switch between tasks without major redesigns.

Recent advances in perception and motion control software have reduced earlier failures that limited practical use, particularly errors tied to object recognition and spatial judgment, and other AI tools also play a central role by allowing these systems to respond to unstructured settings.

Another contributing factor is that production costs have dropped from millions of dollars a decade ago to roughly $100,000 today.

Developers attribute this reduction to progress in computing hardware, batteries, and especially actuators, which translate digital commands into movement.

Like electric cars, manufacturers already build humanoid robots at scale in China, but Europe continues to supply many of the high-precision mechanical components that allow these machines to function reliably.

Despite the growing attention, Barclays acknowledges large-scale adoption is neither guaranteed nor imminent.

Energy efficiency still lags behind human performance, deployment costs remain high, and reliance on critical minerals introduces supply risks.

Similar claims over the past few years have unsettled many workers, although there is little reason for alarm.

Humanoid robots are expected to take on tasks that many people already avoid, but the report relies heavily on forecasts and early trials rather than long-term operational data.

This leaves open questions around reliability, regulation, and whether these machines will spread widely across industries or remain limited to narrowly defined, undesirable roles.

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