What does the future look like? Robots

For decades, the promise of robots revolutionising our lives has felt like the flying cars of the Jetsons: tantalisingly close but stubbornly stuck in science fiction.

The snag?

Teaching robots to navigate the messy, unpredictable real world—because as it turns out, even the most sophisticated coding struggles to predict every possible flavour of chaos.

But the tide is turning. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, robotics is moving out of the lab and into, well, everything else.

In the not-so-distant future, your vegetables might be harvested by robots, your parcels packed by clever machines, and even your dinner delivered by a drone—assuming, of course, they’ve mastered the art of dodging pigeons and dealing with the weather.

Why Now? The Rise of Embodied AI

While headlines have been dominated by large language models like ChatGPT, the quiet revolution lies in AI’s leap into the physical world. Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, calls robotics “AI’s physical manifestation,” predicting that its integration with fields like engineering biology will drive monumental societal shifts. Think less "Skynet" and more "Alexa with arms."

The global humanoid robotics market, already valued at billions, is projected to grow sixfold to $38 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs Research. This surge underscores the growing importance of robots in sectors ranging from healthcare to logistics.

At its core, robotics is about enabling machines to perform tasks once reserved for humans. This marriage of advanced machine learning and hardware is what experts call "embodied AI." With sensors, actuators, and the ability to learn dynamically, robots are no longer just pre-programmed arms on factory floors—they’re becoming adaptive problem-solvers.

The UK: Leader or Laggard?

Across the globe, nations are racing to position themselves at the forefront of this robotics revolution. South Korea has earmarked $2.3 billion for its robotics industry by 2030, while China plans to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025 as part of its Made in China 2025 strategy. Europe, meanwhile, saw $2 billion in robotics investment in 2023, holding steady from $2.4 billion in 2022. Initiatives like the EU’s Factories of the Future programme are fostering cross-border collaboration and creating regional hubs of expertise, from Munich’s robotics cluster to London’s AI corridor.

And the UK? We have world-class research institutions and a vibrant AI sector, yet we’ve failed to craft a coherent national robotics strategy. This lack of direction leaves promising startups stuck in the "valley of death"—where scaling becomes a Herculean challenge due to limited funding and commercialisation support.

The Road Ahead: Strategic Recommendations

To avoid becoming a footnote in the history of robotics, the UK needs a bold, coordinated plan. Here are a few essentials I’d love to chat about (if you’re into that kind of thing):

1. Invest in Innovation:
   Amend the government’s Science and Technology Framework to formally recognise robotics as a priority sector. Fund national hubs to support research and development, and provide grants for open-source tools to make robotics development cheaper and faster.

2. Support Scale-Ups:
   Establish a £100m scale fund for robotics through British Patient Capital to help startups bridge the gap from prototype to market-ready product.

3. Address Talent and Infrastructure Gaps:
   Tackle structural barriers, such as the UK’s limited robotics manufacturing capabilities. Cultivate homegrown talent by integrating robotics into STEM curricula and expanding apprenticeship schemes.

4. Lead with Ethics:
   Europe has already demonstrated the value of ethical AI development with examples like Germany’s Care-O-bot 4, designed for elderly care. The UK should build on this by focusing robotics development on automating "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks while preparing retraining programmes for displaced workers.

5. Boost Public Sector Adoption:
   The NHS and local councils could become launchpads for deploying and refining robotics tech. Imagine an army of robot assistants delivering prescriptions or sorting medical records.

From Potential to Powerhouse

The robotics revolution isn’t just about making life a little easier; it’s about reshaping economies, solving labour shortages, and even safeguarding national security. In a world increasingly defined by technological competition, the UK has a choice: to lead or to lag.

With the right investments and policies, we could make Britain a hub for embodied AI, attracting global talent and capital while ensuring the technology aligns with our values. It’s time to stop dithering and start building.

After all, the robots are coming.

Let’s make sure when they do arrive that they know how to make tea.