Tech tonic: Humanvoid
From C-3PO in ‘Star Wars’ to Sonny in ‘I, Robot’, humanoid robots have long captured our imagination — machines that walk, talk and think like us; not to replace humanity, but to assist it. For decades, these ideas lived mostly on movie screens. That’s beginning to change.
Elon Musk’s recent demonstration at the Saudi-US Investment Forum brought that future undeniably close. The Tesla CEO didn’t just share his vision for the Optimus robot, he showcased it live before world leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump.
Optimus moved with uncanny, human-like grace, even breaking into a perfectly synchronised ‘YMCA’ dance that might have made Sonny blush. This wasn’t a special effects clip or a pre-rendered concept video. Multiple Optimus units performed with a precision that blurred the line between machine and human.
“We’re not just building robots,” Musk said, “we’re building the foundation for an economic transformation.” He claimed that mass-produced humanoids could unlock productivity gains so significant they’d make today’s economy seem “quaint by comparison”.
Optimus is still evolving, but even in its current form, it offers a glimpse into a future shaped not just by smarter machines, but by smarter ways of working alongside them.
Optimus is designed to make life easier and safer for people in several ways:
Reducing labour burden: It can take over repetitive, physically demanding or mundane tasks, freeing humans to focus on more creative and meaningful work.
Safety in dangerous jobs: The robot can operate in hazardous environments like construction sites, factories and disaster zones, minimising risks to human workers.
Assistance at home: For families, especially those with elderly or disabled members, Optimus could help with daily activities, offer mobility support, medication reminders, and even companionship.
Healthcare support: In hospitals and care facilities, Optimus could transport patients, deliver supplies, clean rooms and assist with non-critical care, helping address staff shortages and improve efficiency.
Industrial revolution 2.0: By automating manual labour, Optimus could transform industries like manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and hospitality, enhancing efficiency and potentially reducing costs.
The competitors
Tesla isn’t the only company betting on humanoids. Others are racing to build robots that can navigate human environments and perform complex tasks the way we do. Notable among them are:
Atlas by Boston Dynamics: Known for its agility and advanced mobility.
Figure 02: Sleek, general-purpose humanoid integrates AI-teamwork.
Digit by Agility Robotics: Optimised for logistics, already tested in Amazon warehouses.
Each model brings the world a step closer to where human-shaped machines will become a part of everyday life.
Automation anxiety
The rise of humanoid robots is thrilling. They’re smarter, more adaptable and closer than ever to working alongside us. But that very capability forces us to ask: what happens to the millions of people whose jobs they might take? This isn’t like the automation of the past, which transformed one industry at a time. Humanoid robots are built for our homes, hospitals and stores. The disruption won’t be slow or isolated. It will be sweeping.
So, are we ready for robots to move from factory floors into our homes and workplaces? The technology is advancing rapidly, but can society, policy and infrastructure keep pace?
One thing is certain after Musk’s demonstration. The conversation has shifted from “if” to “when”.
