Marketplace Tech How far away are we from humanoid robots doing our chores?
6 snips
Dec 2, 2025 
In this episode, Ken Goldberg, a robotics expert from UC Berkeley and co-founder of Ambi Robotics, dives into the future of household humanoid robots. He discusses the significant challenges household environments pose for robots, including confusing shiny utensils. Ken shares insights from a recent robotics conference, expressing skepticism about the rapid adoption of humanoids. He emphasizes that while robots can augment roles in logistics, true humanoid companions are likely still years away due to the complexities in physical tasks.
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Homes Break Robot Perception
- Household environments are extremely variable and cluttered, which makes robot perception very hard.
- Transparent and shiny objects like glassware and utensils confuse current sensors and cause robot failures.
Takeaway From A Big Robotics Conference
- Ken Goldberg attended a large robotics conference in China with about 6,000 attendees and many humanoid demos.
- He noted a broad consensus that robots will not replace most human workers soon, estimating 10–25 years for home humanoids.
Don't Trust Hype Timelines
- Manage expectations and avoid believing quick timelines for home humanoids touted in media.
- Expect it to take longer than headlines suggest, roughly a decade or more for capable household robots.