Robots For Dishwashing + Robots Quitting on Chores

6:13

Over the last month, there have been countless announcements about the progress of humanoid robots. I am sure you all have seen the many comments and memes people have put out complaining about GenAI doing all the fun things like creating art, movies, and literature.

But now, we’re finally seeing robots who will do chores for us!

This week, I want to talk about the developments we’re seeing in 2025 for domestic tasks and beyond.

Quick sidebar: Yesterday, I hosted a Gen AI Ask Us Anything session with Mission CTO Jonathan LaCour. You can watch the recording here or join us at the next one on March 27th.

Humanoid Robots

2025 already has quite a few updates for robotics with breakthroughs in AI, hardware, and real-world applications. CES showcased a ton of different robot projects from all over the world. Let's look at some of the most significant developments:

Figure's Helix AI System

Figure AI made headlines with their Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model called Helix. This system enables their humanoid robots to:

Understand and respond to natural language commands
Manipulate objects they've never encountered before
Collaboratively work together on tasks
Make contextual decisions about object placement

What really stood out to me is that Figure claims this is the first demonstration of two robots collaborating on a task. The system bridges vision and language processing in a way that could revolutionize robot deployment across various industries. Kinda creepy, kinda cool.

According to TechCrunch, Figure had previously partnered with OpenAI but recently announced they were stepping away from that collaboration due to their in-house breakthrough with Helix. Bloomberg reports they're raising funding at a potentially massive $39.5B valuation.

1X's NEO Gamma

Norwegian company 1X Technologies unveiled their NEO Gamma, designed with key advancements:

Multipurpose whole-body controller for natural movement
Improved hardware with 10x greater reliability
Advanced AI systems including visual manipulation capabilities
Reinforcement learning using human motion capture data
Significant noise reduction (operating at refrigerator noise levels)

You can watch a demo of their humanoid robot doing household chores here. I got a good laugh at how slowly the robot wiped off the window and the counter. Add a couple of high energy kids into that house and I don’t think the robot would be able to keep up!

Meta's PARTNR Program

Meta launched PARTNR to study human-robot interaction (HRI), focusing on collaborative approaches rather than full automation. Their research includes:

A benchmark of 100,000 tasks like washing dishes and cleaning up toys
A dataset of human demonstrations in simulation
Real-world testing with Boston Dynamics' Spot robot
A mixed-reality system that visually represents the robot's decision-making processes to human collaborators, making the robot's "thinking" more transparent and predictable.

Meta frames PARTNR as a step toward "reimagining robots as future partners, not just agents." To me, this feels like the most practical path forward – robots that can effectively complement human capabilities through thoughtful collaboration.

Clone Robotics' Hydraulic Muscle Approach

Poland-based Clone Robotics recently unveiled their Protoclone humanoid robot, taking a completely different approach from other companies in the space.

Instead of relying on traditional electric motors or solenoids, the Protoclone uses a "Myofiber" muscle system that mimics human physiology:

Over 1,000 artificial muscles that contract through hydraulic fluid
A polymer skeleton replicating 206 human bones
A 500-watt electric pump that serves as the robot's "heart"
Comprehensive sensory systems including four depth cameras, 70 inertial sensors, and 320 pressure sensors

Clone Robotics plans to start production with 279 units called Clone Alpha, with preorders opening later this year.

If you want to be creeped out, here’s the video of Protoclone dangling from the ceiling and kicking its legs.

The Challenges Ahead

Whether you’re excited about the future of humanoid robots folding your laundry or not, significant challenges remain before humanoid robots become commonplace in our homes.

Cost barriers - Humanoid robots are prohibitively expensive for most consumers. Tesla estimates that their robot would be ~$20,000 when its readied for sale. Key word: estimates.
Speed and efficiency - As robotics expert Rodney Brooks noted about Figure's demo, the robots operated "at a snail's pace, about 10 to 20 times slower" than a human performing the same tasks.
Environmental variability - Homes are notoriously tricky environments for robots, with constantly changing layouts, lighting conditions, and object placements.
User interfaces - Creating intuitive ways for people to interact with these robots remains a work in progress.

What This Means For You

While consumer-ready humanoid robots may still be a few years away from mass adoption, development has really seemed to accelerate this year.

These robots promise to eventually take on mundane household chores, assist elderly individuals with daily tasks, and collaborate with humans in new and helpful ways.

For now, the most practical applications will likely be in industrial settings, where companies like Tesla are planning to deploy their robots first before eventually bringing them to consumer markets.

Would you welcome a humanoid robot assistant in your home? Let me know what you think.

Until next time,
Ryan Ries

Now time for this week’s image and prompt I used to generate it.

"Create an image of a humanoid robot cleaning house. Human children are making a mess in the house faster than the robot can work, and the robot is getting stressed."