If You're Listening Where’s my robot butler?
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Dec 3, 2025 Tech companies are in a fierce race to create humanoid robots, but the reality often falls short of slick promotional demos. Historical robot hoaxes reveal the gap between perception and reality. While industrial robots thrive, humanoids face challenges like safety and balance. Specialized designs may outperform these generalist robots. The limitations of AI in physical tasks raise questions about future manipulation capabilities. Tune in for a fascinating journey through the ups and downs of robotic innovation!
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Neo's Puppet Moment
- OneX's promotional video shows Neo doing chores but then admits experts remotely intervene when Neo can't act autonomously.
- Matt Bevan highlights that Neo is sometimes an autonomous robot and sometimes an expensive puppet operated by company experts.
Journalist Finds Neo Clumsy
- The Wall Street Journal visit found Neo did almost nothing autonomously and appeared clumsy, even breaking a finger while loading a dishwasher.
- Matt Bevan notes this real-world demo contrasted sharply with the slick promotional footage.
Miss Honeywell's Illusion
- Historical hoaxes like Miss Honeywell fooled journalists with staged robot demonstrations that were actually human performers or tricks.
- Matt Bevan recounts how media credulity repeated across decades with similar illusions like Miss Honeywell.