Figure AI demonstrated the capabilities of its humanoid robots in cargo sorting, sparking a discussion about the imminent displacement of humans. However, experts, including the University of New South Wales’s Associate Professor Oliver Obst, are certain that mass replacement of workers by physical robots will not happen for a few years.

Despite the success of AI software, which has already led to tens of thousands of administrative sector cuts, physical machines face challenges in reliability, security, and adaptation to a dynamic environment. They require constant recharging and maintenance, yielding to the individual in the variability of tasks and speed of work under unpredictable conditions.

Full automation is also constrained by regulatory and infrastructure barriers. Although the introduction of robots could close a manpower gap and remove people from hazardous industries, researchers warn about risks, including lowering the threshold for the use of force in military conflicts and the need to overhaul the economic model.