Jakarta –
AI-powered robots are slowly spreading, from wheeled delivery robots to companion robots for the growing elderly population. However, what most attracts investors seems to be humanoid robots.
They poured billions of dollars into this sector amid the euphoria that human-shaped robots could influence almost every aspect of society. They have the potential to replace jobs in various fields, from domestic work to factory workers.
But one venture capitalist is warning that the surge in investment into humanoid robots shows signs of the next financial bubble. Despite the viral videos of dancing robots, the reality is that there are still many major technical obstacles that need to be resolved. Startups in this field are still very far from making a profit.
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“Investors must remain disciplined and support companies that have realistic goals based on economics, not just trends,” said Daiva Rakauskaite, manager at Aneli Capital, a venture capital company from Lithuania.
“From day one, startups should aim for an initial revenue stream through licensing and partnerships, and have a clear monetization model in the near future. This revenue-first philosophy can be applied in any field,” he was quoted as saying. detikINET from Futurism, Sunday (21/12/2025).
Rakauskaite wasn’t the only one to voice concerns. China’s National Development and Reform Commission, an economic planning body, warned of a bubble forming around robotics. Many startups create robots that are too similar, thereby wasting funds that could be used for crucial research.
This warning is reinforced by skepticism from robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks, inventor of the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner. Earlier this year, he wrote that massive investments are futile because humanoid robots are not yet safe enough to perform human tasks due to hand dexterity and gait problems, among other technical issues. “We will go through a period of great euphoria, then enter a phase of deep disappointment,” he said.
Even so, the trend of humanoid robots seems to be out of control because AI gives humanoids commercial potential that was previously impossible.
In an October report from business analytics firm CB Insights, it said the sector still faces fundamental challenges in inference, agility, reliability and cost, limiting initial use to structured environments such as factories and warehouses with controlled and predictable types of tasks.
(fyk/hps)
