iRobot co-founder calls $39 billion humanoid robot market a 'fantasy'

In a report dated September 29, 2025, Rodney Brooks criticized the $39 billion market value for humanoid robots as a “fantasy.” Citing the many sensory receptors in human hands and the dangers of falling, he predicted that practical robots would use wheeled designs with multiple arms.

Brooks said humanoid robots still lack the dexterity of human hands and also need power to remain upright. He said a more practical design would combine multiple arms and advanced sensory equipment with a wheeled base, providing a clear point of comparison for research and development.