Asia Centric by Bloomberg Intelligence Decoding the Multi-Billion Dollar Humanoid Market
Jan 21, 2026
Takeshi Kitaura, a senior industrials analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence who specializes in robotics, shares insights on the booming humanoid robot market. He discusses the buzz from CES 2026 and the rising expectations around companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics. Kitaura explores the concept of 'physical AI' and its role in automating factory processes, as well as safety concerns in domestic settings. He provides a cautious market forecast of a $5 billion automotive assembly potential by 2035, emphasizing that while excitement is high, practical implementation will take time.
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Physical AI Means Real-World Movement
- Humanoid robots mimic human size to fit into existing human-centric environments like hallways and factory stations.
- Physical AI extends beyond humanoids to any AI-driven machines that can manipulate objects in the real world.
Measured TAM For Auto Assembly
- Bloomberg Intelligence forecasts a $5 billion TAM for humanoid use in automotive assembly by 2035, including peripherals and integration.
- The estimate reflects current technical limits rather than optimistic street forecasts of hundreds of billions.
Last-Mile Material Handling First
- Humanoids are best suited initially for last-mile tasks in auto plants like material handling and moving kits to the line.
- Even highly automated factories still rely on humans for many final-assembly and material movement tasks.