Neo humanoid robots are brought to American households this year. Courtesy of 1X Technologies
The humanoids shift
The next generation of artificial intelligence is shedding its screen-based constraints to walk, stretch, and pray alongside humanity.
No longer confined to the factory floor, humanoid robots are entering everyday environments from airports and homes to temples and wellness events. This rapid expansion is testing how humans will interact with machines outside of industrial settings.
Japan offers the most striking examples of this shift. At Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Japan Airlines (JAL) will begin trialing humanoid robots from Chinese robotics company Unitree as baggage handlers and cargo movers. The initiative is designed to alleviate labor shortages as inbound tourism surges and Japan’s aging population shrinks the available workforce. JAL Ground Service President Yoshiteru Suzuki said the robots could “reduce the burden on workers,” while humans will continue to oversee safety-critical tasks.
Elsewhere in Japan, robots are moving from physical labor into social and cultural roles. Kyoto University recently unveiled Buddharoid, an AI-powered robot monk trained on Buddhist scriptures to provide spiritual guidance and perform traditional gestures like bowing and prayer. The project follows the introduction of the robotic priest Mindar in 2019 and reflects Japan’s attempt to preserve religious institutions as temple closures accelerate due to depopulation and an aging clergy.
Meanwhile, Silicon Valley startup 1X Technologies plans to begin shipping its Neo humanoid robots to American households this year. Unlike clunky industrial robots, Neo has been deliberately designed to feel domestic and approachable, wrapped in soft knitted textiles and given a gender-neutral appearance. “We’re really trying to make it feel safe in your house,” designer Danny Chambers told Dezeen. The company believes home environments offer valuable training grounds for the next generation of AI-powered assistants.
China is also accelerating the transition from laboratory demonstrations to public-facing experiences. Beijing recently hosted a humanoid half-marathon featuring hundreds of robots, while Shanghai robotics company AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics) staged a large-scale yoga event on Nanjing Road in which humanoid robots performed alongside human participants to showcase their increasingly fluid movement capabilities.
The broader trend reflects growing confidence in both robotics hardware and AI systems. According to the International Federation of Robotics, China already deploys more industrial robots than the rest of the world combined. Yet the next phase will be less about manufacturing and more about social integration. As Oregon State University robotics professor Alan Fern observed after Beijing’s robot marathon, the real question is no longer whether robots can move like humans, but how that capability translates into productivity and, ultimately, profitability.
Indeed, according to the “Future 100: 2026” global survey, 73% of respondents believe people and digital humans will live and work alongside one another in the future. For brands and businesses, humanoid robots are rapidly evolving from technology showcases into service interfaces. The winners may be those that make robots feel less like machines and more like trusted companions, coworkers and helpers.
Main image: Neo humanoid robots are brought to American households this year. Courtesy of 1X Technologies
