We, Robots: How Humanoid Robots Are Entering Everyday Life

Humanoid robots are a new part of our global Third Culture. The time has come to figure out how we live with them.

More than 50 million people visited the 1964 New York World’s Fair to see the spectacle of exhibits that was General Electric’s Carousel of Progress and Disney’s Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, among others. Lifelike talking figures such as dancing bears, singing birds and Honest Abe himself were powered by a new technology called audio-animatronics still employed in Disney theme parks today. But there was much more to this display of futuristic technology; it foreshadowed the arrival of colour television, mobile phones, and the Internet, long before Zoom entered the lexicon.

At about the same time came robots, mostly science fiction, appearing in movies, comic books and pulp fiction. But not for long.

Where We’ve Been, Where We Are

Sixty-two years later, robots are far from fictional, often representing peak technology as precision machines that assemble automobiles, perform surgery, fetch warehouse inventory and keep us company. Look no further than February’s China Media Group Spring Festival Gala television special, which showcased a chorus of stable, versatile Unitree G1 robots, not once tripping or falling over during their mind-boggling demonstration of dance and martial arts. Humanoid robots have arrived.

Animated movies and television shows mean that we’re all familiar with anthropomorphism, the ascription of human form and attributes to non-human objects. In the Magic Kingdom those objects are rabbits and teapots. Presenting generally as human beings, humanoid robots are designed to work alongside people, with human tools, in human environments. They can vacuum the floor, fold clothes, take out the garbage and empty the dishwashers right after they ask us how our day was.

Humanoid robots are already performing a remarkable range of tasks at more affordable price points than many of us anticipated. 1X Technologies’ NEO, for example, was designed as a practical, human-centric assistant built to operate safely and naturally in everyday environments. 1X CEO Bernt Øivind Børnich claims it frees up time for things that really matter, and they now occupy spaces beyond the homes such as 7-Eleven stores across Japan.

Tokyo’s Telexistence has created a humanoid robot to perform tasks including cleaning, stocking and even customer interaction. The robots make comments like “Thank you,” and “Would you like a bag for that?”, all without requiring a break. 7-Eleven plans to have the robots installed and fully functional in some of its 22,000 stores across Japan by 2029. With an anticipated workforce shortfall of 11 million over the next 15 years, robots will mitigate Japan’s labour problems in a market where popular convenience stores are already struggling to maintain the 24/7 service.

The boundless utility of humanoid robots means they can where a person sometimes can’t provide assistance that may be extraordinary and which requires safety, care and strength, such as in the care of the elderly.

Saitama-based RIKEN’s ROBEAR is built for strength and engineered to assist caregivers in Japan’s ageing society. ROBEAR can safely lift and transfer patients from beds, wheelchairs or the floor using powerful actuators cushioned by soft materials. Designed to reduce anxiety and encourage trust, tactile sensors and force-control systems allow the robot to modulate its grip in real time, responding to human movement and weight with a gentle touch. The ROBEAR isn’t about replacing human caregivers; it’s about protecting them from excess physical strain and preserving the dignity of patients.

The Shape of More to Come

It’s entirely possible 2026 is the year we turn the humanoid robot corner. As technology improves and expands, these robots will morph into common solutions to everyday challenges. Tesla’s commitment to its Optimus robot could make it the company’s primary focus by the end of the year. Germany’s Agile One is a rising star alongside Boston Dynamics’ general purpose Atlas, a highlight of January’s 2026 CES in Las Vegas. Other notable robots included the realistic puppy Jennie, geared to combat loneliness and dementia in the elderly; lifestyle products such as next-gen robovacuums that climb stairs or wash and dry carpets; and Tensor’s global first personal luxury robocar. Many are expected to be in our homes and garages sooner rather than later. And despite the show being propaganda and being siloed from real environments, Unitree’s robots were nonetheless an impressive display of how fast the technology has developed.

Do humanoid robots manufactured in Japan have the capacity to respond to the cultural nuances of a Muslim family living in Uruguay?

The rise of humanoid robots forces a convergence of engineering, psychology, design and ethics. This convergence is the hallmark of a Third Culture moment, where technological capability and cultural understanding intersect and advance in lockstep. Humanoid robots are an invaluable tool in a future with rapidly ageing populations, fewer babies and fewer workers. They’re vital in a world where climate change has yet to show signs of slowing, and where extreme weather events and natural disasters are becoming more frequent. This type of robot will be a boon to hazardous, but inevitable, rescue efforts.

Not only is the intersection of disciplines reminiscent of Third Culture thinking, the reality of humanoid robots living and working in our spaces raises questions of whether our robotic companions will be as diverse as we are. Do humanoid robots manufactured in Japan have the capacity to respond to the cultural nuances of a Muslim family living in Uruguay? Does the emergent wave of robot technicians have the emotional and social intelligence to recognize those nuances? How quickly might robots adapt, and how many resources are we willing to put into ensuring they can? These are just a few questions for the long term that need to be addressed in the short term.

It’s been a long road from Disney’s audio-animatronics to today’s sophisticated applications. The gap between what robots can do and what we trust them to do is wide, but it will narrow as innovation continues and our world adopts then accepts all that robotics has to offer. In the wake of the World’s Fair in 1965, legendary science-fiction author Isaac Asimov summed it up best when he said, “In a properly automated and educated world… machines will do the work that makes life possible and human beings will do all the other things that make life pleasant and worthwhile.”