Humanoid robots, which are robots that look and act like people, are becoming more popular. In 2025, about 7,000 humanoid robots were sold around the world, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Most of these robots were bought by research centres and technology companies to use for testing and to help improve artificial intelligence, or AI.

Humanoid robots are different from traditional robots because they are made to work in places designed for humans. They often have a body, arms and a head, but do not always have legs—some move on wheels. Only a few are used for real jobs, because it is very hard for robots to walk and handle objects like humans do. Other problems for these robots are short battery life, safety concerns, high costs, and not always working when something unexpected happens.

Experts think that sales of humanoid robots may grow quickly in the future, especially in China. Some car companies are already testing humanoid robots for jobs that are hard or boring for people. However, most robots in workplaces today are still the traditional kind, such as robotic arms in factories.