Ghost in the Machine: The Robots are Coming!

By Dr Luke Soon, Futuroptimistic AI Ethicist & Philosopher

10 Minutes to Midnight: The Moment Before the Leap

There is a hush before every leap in human history—a moment when the world holds its breath, sensing that something profound is about to change. In 2025, we stand at such a threshold. For decades, AI has been a ghost in the machine: digital, invisible, and abstract. But now, the ghost is gaining form. Embodied AI—robots that sense, move, and act in our world—are about to walk among us. The question is not if, but how soon, and what it will mean for the human story.

From Code to Corporeal: The Origins of Embodied AI

The journey began with digital agents—chatbots, virtual assistants, and recommendation engines. These were clever, but ultimately confined to the world of bits and bytes. The first true wave of embodied AI was not humanoid, but utilitarian: drones mapping disaster zones, autonomous vehicles navigating city streets, and industrial robots assembling our goods. These machines, though not shaped like us, were the first to bring AI into the physical world.

But the next leap is unmistakably anthropomorphic. Companies like Boston Dynamics, Figure, and Tesla (with its Optimus robot) are racing to bring humanoid robots to market. These are not science fiction props, but real, learning, adaptive machines designed to work alongside us, in our warehouses, hospitals, and—soon—our homes (World Economic Forum, 2025).

2025-2030: The Tipping Point

The numbers are staggering. Analysts predict that by 2027 or 2028, billions of robots—many of them humanoid—could be operating across the globe (World Economic Forum, 2025). The global humanoid robot market is projected to reach $13.25 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual rate of over 45% (Markets and Markets, 2025). Morgan Stanley forecasts a $357 billion impact by 2040, with the potential for a $5 trillion market by 2050 (Morgan Stanley, 2025).

China and the US are leading the charge, with China’s humanoid robot market alone expected to soar from $377 million in 2024 to over $10 billion by 2029. The race is not just technological, but geopolitical, with patents, supply chains, and national strategies all in play (World Economic Forum, 2025).

Futurist Timelines: When Will (Sentient?) Robots Walk Among Us..

The next three years will be pivotal. By 2028, humanoid robots will likely be a common sight in warehouses, hospitals, public spaces, and even homes. Amazon already deploys over 750,000 robots in its logistics network, and is now trialling humanoids for last-mile delivery. Tesla, Figure, and others are promising mass-market robots within this decade.

Futurists predict that the adoption curve for humanoid robots could outpace that of electric vehicles, driven by demographic shifts, labour shortages, and relentless advances in AI and sensor technology (Morgan Stanley, 2025).

Beyond the Humanoid: Embodied AI in Action

Not all embodied AI will look like us. Drones, autonomous cars, and delivery bots are already reshaping industries. These machines are the vanguard of physicalised AI—agents that sense, move, and act in the real world, often with a degree of autonomy that would have seemed science fiction just a decade ago.

The era of embodied AI is rapidly unfolding, moving beyond purely digital agents to physicalised robots that interact with our world. This transformation is evident in various forms: drones are revolutionising logistics and emergency services, autonomous vehicles are reshaping transportation, and warehouse robots are optimising supply chains. These non-humanoid examples demonstrate AI’s growing physical agency, sensing and adapting to real-world environments.

The most ambitious frontier is humanoid robots, with companies like Boston Dynamics, Figure, and Tesla leading the charge to integrate human-like machines into daily life for tasks ranging from manufacturing to healthcare and companionship. This convergence of digital intelligence with physical presence means AI is not just processing data, but actively participating in our social and economic fabric. By 2028, billions of these embodied AI agents are expected to be commonplace, acting as colleagues, companions, and catalysts for unprecedented productivity and societal change.

The age of embodied AI is not a distant vision—it is unfolding all around us, often in ways that are both subtle and profound. While the headlines focus on humanoid robots, the reality is that embodied AI already permeates our daily lives, reshaping industries and quietly redefining what it means to work, move, and connect.

Drones: The Eyes and Hands in the Sky
Consider the modern drone. Once the domain of hobbyists and militaries, drones are now indispensable in agriculture, logistics, disaster response, and even medicine. In Rwanda and Ghana, Zipline’s AI-powered drones deliver blood and vaccines to remote clinics, saving lives where roads are impassable. In Australia, swarms of agricultural drones monitor crops, apply fertiliser, and detect disease, all with a precision and efficiency that was unimaginable just a decade ago.

Autonomous Vehicles: The Rolling Revolution
Autonomous cars and trucks are perhaps the most visible—and controversial—examples of embodied AI. Waymo’s robotaxis now navigate the complex streets of San Francisco and Phoenix, learning from every mile. In China, Baidu’s Apollo Go service has logged millions of kilometres, ferrying passengers without a human driver. These vehicles are not just marvels of engineering; they are living experiments in trust, safety, and the social contract between humans and machines.

Warehouse and Delivery Robots: The Silent Workforce
Step inside an Amazon fulfilment centre and you’ll witness a ballet of robots—Kiva units gliding across the floor, sorting, lifting, and transporting goods with uncanny coordination. In South Korea and Japan, delivery robots now bring groceries and parcels to doorsteps, navigating crowded pavements and even riding lifts. These robots are not humanoid, but they are deeply embodied: sensing, adapting, and acting in the physical world.

Humanoids: The Next Leap
The most ambitious frontier is, of course, the humanoid robot. Boston Dynamics’ Atlas can run, jump, and dance; Tesla’s Optimus is being trained for factory work and, soon, home assistance. Figure’s AI-powered humanoids are being piloted in logistics and manufacturing, learning to handle objects, tools, and even social cues. These robots are designed not just to mimic human form, but to collaborate with us—learning from our gestures, language, and routines.

Healthcare, Hospitality, and Beyond
In hospitals, robots like Moxi and TUG deliver medication, transport linens, and support overworked staff. In hotels, AI concierges greet guests, answer questions, and provide room service. In eldercare, companion robots offer conversation, reminders, and even emotional support, helping to combat loneliness and cognitive decline.

The Convergence: Digital and Physical Intelligence
What unites all these examples is the convergence of digital intelligence with physical agency. Embodied AI is not just about movement; it’s about perception, adaptation, and interaction. These systems learn from the world, respond to its unpredictability, and—crucially—begin to participate in the social fabric of human life.

A Glimpse of the Near Future
By 2028, it is entirely plausible that embodied AI will be as common as smartphones are today. Billions of robots—humanoid and otherwise—will work alongside us, not as replacements, but as colleagues, companions, and catalysts for new forms of productivity and creativity.

The East might havre the Advantage..

The era of embodied AI is rapidly unfolding, moving beyond digital agents to physicalised robots that interact with our world. This transformation is visible in drones revolutionising logistics, autonomous vehicles reshaping transportation, and warehouse robots optimising supply chains. Notably, Chinese manufacturers—such as Unitree, Agibot, and the robotics arms of tech giants like Huawei and Xiaomi—are now leading the charge in mass-producing affordable, adaptable robots for both industry and public life. Their rapid scaling and integration of AI with advanced hardware echo China’s earlier leapfrog in electric vehicles, where domestic innovation and government support enabled Chinese EV makers to outpace Western incumbents and dominate global markets.

The most ambitious frontier is humanoid robots, with China’s Figure-like startups and state-backed initiatives racing alongside Boston Dynamics and Tesla to bring human-like machines into daily life. This is where the East has a distinct edge: the ability to rapidly iterate, manufacture at scale, and deploy embodied AI across vast, diverse environments. As with EVs, China’s approach could allow it to leapfrog the West in the intelligence arms race, setting global standards and shaping the future of embodied AI. By 2028, billions of these agents—many made in China—are expected to be commonplace, acting as colleagues, companions, and catalysts for unprecedented productivity and societal change.

Societal Impact: Jobs, Productivity, and the Future of Work

The impact on human labour is profound. The PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer 2025 reports that sectors adopting embodied AI are seeing a 2.8x increase in productivity growth, but also face new challenges in workforce transformation (PwC, 2025). Oxford Economics estimates that up to 20 million manufacturing jobs could be displaced by 2030, but also notes that the “robotics dividend” could offset stagnation in ageing economies (Oxford Economics, 2025).

Yet, the story is not simply one of loss. New roles are emerging—robot wranglers, AI safety engineers, and human-robot collaboration specialists. The World Economic Forum highlights that robots can take on hazardous tasks, improve workplace safety, and augment human capabilities, making jobs more fulfilling and productive (World Economic Forum, 2025).

Risks, Fears, and the “Terminator” Scenario

No discussion of embodied AI is complete without addressing the risks. Public anxieties about job loss, privacy, and safety are real. The spectre of the “Terminator” scenario—robots turning against their creators—remains a powerful cultural narrative. While such dystopian outcomes are unlikely, the risks of hacking, misuse, and unintended consequences are non-trivial.

The World Economic Forum and other bodies are calling for robust guardrails: technical safeguards, ethical frameworks, and clear regulations to ensure that robots behave safely and predictably, especially in intimate domestic spaces (World Economic Forum, 2025). The EU’s AI Act and Asia-Pacific’s Trust by Design initiatives are early steps in this direction.

Utopian Visions: Productivity, Wellbeing, and Human Flourishing

On the other hand, the utopian vision is equally compelling. Embodied AI promises to revolutionise healthcare, eldercare, education, and disaster response. Robots can provide companionship to the lonely, assistance to the disabled, and relief to overburdened workers. In this future, humans and robots collaborate—each amplifying the other’s strengths.

Humanoid robots, capable of operating up to 20 hours a day, could deliver four times the labour productivity of humans, with greater accuracy and no fatigue (Strategy&, PwC, 2025). The economic and social dividends could be immense—if managed wisely.

Philosophical Reflections: What Does It Mean to Be Human?

As embodied AI becomes ubiquitous, we are forced to confront deep philosophical questions. What does it mean to be human in a world where machines can walk, talk, and perhaps even feel? Will robots merely extend our agency, or will they challenge our sense of purpose and identity?

I believe that embodied intelligence is the final piece of the AGI puzzle. When AI can sense, move, and interact with the world as we do, it will gain access to the last spectrum of data—physical, sensory, and emotional. This will not happen overnight; AGI will emerge in waves, not on a single date. But as robots become our colleagues, companions, and even caregivers, we must ensure that their intelligence is aligned with our values, and that their presence enhances, rather than diminishes, our humanity.

Conclusion: The Leap Is Now

The robotics revolution is not a distant dream—it is unfolding now. Billions of embodied AI agents are poised to walk among us, transforming industries, societies, and the very fabric of daily life. The challenge is to harness this power responsibly, balancing risk and reward, and ensuring that the future we build is one of shared prosperity and human flourishing.

References (2025 onwards):

For more insights, visit Genesis: Human Experience in the Age of Artificial Intelligence or connect with me on LinkedIn.