Digit is currently at work in a GXO-operated Spanx warehouse in Atlanta, where it moves boxes from 6 River Systems robots to a conveyor belt.
Limitations of Today’s Robots
Despite the hype, humanoid robots still face limitations:
- Cost: Many units cost tens of thousands of dollars.
- Complexity: The AI and hardware are still developing.
- Limited deployment: GXO, for instance, operates over 1,000 warehouses but only has two Digit robots in use.
Benjamin Lawrence, a senior lead analyst at CB Insights, noted, “A lot of factories and warehouses are very similar, so you can set up replicating tasks much more easily.”
Not Quite a Robot Takeover—Yet
Experts say humanoids aren’t taking over just yet. “We’re not at wide-scale deployment and commercial viability yet, but we’re not 10 years away, that’s for sure,” Stoch said.
There are already more affordable robot models coming from Chinese manufacturers like Unitree, hinting at broader adoption in the near future.
Robots vs. Specialized Automation
Analysts caution that a humanoid robot might not always be the best tool. Paul Miller, an analyst at Forrester, explained, “There are very few use cases where the best robotic form is something that looks like you.” Instead, he said tasks might be better split among:
- Software
- Robotic arms
- Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)
- Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
Big Tech’s Big Bet on Robots
Investment in robotic tech is booming. According to CB Insights, companies making humanoid robots raised $1.2 billion in 2024, with forecasts pointing to $3 billion in funding this year.
