Google unveils new AI-powered humanoid robots, expert says expect more in coming years

With Google revealing its newest humanoid robot, these machines may become more present in our homes and work sooner than we think.

Several AI-powered tools are already integrated in our daily lives, but futurist and founder of tech education company WAYE Sinead Bovell says we can expect more AI-powered humanoid robots to come soon.

“I think we’re approaching this turning point in robotics,” Bovell said in an interview with CTV Your Morning on Wednesday. “We’re entering this shift, and over the next couple of years, we’ll start to see humanoid robots enter the workforce and perhaps the home.”

The advancement in AI-powered language models is what is accelerating the use of more humanoid robots, Bovell says, as it’s equipping robots with the capability of understanding human language more effectively.

Bovell adds that, like with the shift we saw with the introduction of AI-powered tool ChatGPT in 2023, we’ll start to see a shift with robots, seeing more become integrated in our lives.

“Now we can talk to them,” Bovell said. “‘Pick up that coffee cup, move that green sweater into my drawer,’ and the robot being able to interpret and process what it is we’re saying.”

Concerns over human-like robots

Bovell says the humanoid robots we’re likely to see will look different, depending on their function.

“We’re seeing this breakthrough in these developments of humanoid robots because the world was designed for humans,” Bovell said.

Roboticists feel that if we want robots to be useful in our everyday lives, we should make them fit into our world rather than redesign our infrastructure to suit them, Bovell says.

How will robots integrate in our lives

Bovell says humanoid robots could be used to help people at work, like with labour shortages, at home or in their vehicles.

While predictions among roboticists in the industry varies, Bovell says many believe we will have one billion humanoid robots by 2035. While Bovell believes this number might be closer to a million, she says we can still expect a takeoff in humanoid robots.

“I would say in the next three to four years, we’ll see them more regularly in the workforce and that’s because it’s easier. Workplaces are much more consistent,” Bovell said.

Bovell says we can expect humanoid robots to start appearing in some homes in the next few years. After a decade, she expects humanoid robots to be commonplace in all homes.