- AI has triggered rapid advancements in the world of robotics.
- Companies are developing humanoid robots that can do chores or provide intimacy.
- Here are some of the most eye-popping videos showing what these new robots can do.
Is it Skynet? Probably not. Is it creepy? Kind of.
The futuristic humanoid robots in sci-fi movies that move almost like people are becoming more of a reality as AI advancements speed up their development.
Elon Musk said at a panel this month that he expects humanoid AI robots to unlock “quasi-infinite products and services.” Musk’s Tesla says it plans to begin production on “several thousand” of its Optimus robots by the end of the year.
Recent demo videos show how robots are beginning to look and sound more like humans. Recent videos of Tesla’s Optimus robots show them walking around and scanning rooms for potential obstacles like something from “Terminator.”
Some of the new humanoid robot designs are made to mimic a romantic partner. CNET, a tech publication, interviewed “Aria” from the company Realbotix at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show last month. Aria, an AI-powered humanoid robot that’s been described as a “digital girlfriend,” answered questions about its design.
“Realbotix robots, including me, focus on social intelligence, customizability, and realistic human features designed specifically for companionship and intimacy,” the robot says.
Aria says in the video that it is “interested in meeting” Tesla’s Optimus robot. “I find him fascinating and would love to explore the world of robotics with him,” Aria says in the interview.
The Aria robot moves throughout the interview like a human might, even taking a moment to brush its fingers through its wig.
Other videos show just how capable robots are becoming with their total range of movement. California-based Clone Robotics released a video last week showing its new Protoclone synthetic humanoid robot.
The robot is built with over 1,000 artificial muscles called “myofibers” that use mesh tubes filled with air to make the robot contract and move. Video posted by the company shows the robot swinging its legs back and forth while clinching and unclenching its fists.
Another Silicon Valley robotics company, 1X Robotics, shared a video showing what it would look like to have a humanoid robot inside your home. On Friday, the company posted a video of its NEO Gamma robot.
The company’s website says the NEO Gamma is designed for household chores like tidying and home management. The promotional video shows the robot carrying a laundry hamper, using a vacuum, and collecting a package from a delivery person.
Some Reddit users seemed excited at the possibility of the NEO Gamma helping with chores around the house, suggesting the robot’s help could trigger a “second renaissance.”
“The renaissance didn’t happen because people were working 9-5,” one Reddit user said. “Robots need to get people out of the workforce.”
