Physical AI robots in manufacturing and logistics

In early July 2026, Figure AI reported that its California plant was operating with more robots than human workers, signalling a rapid shift toward fully automated production lines. By early August, the broader trend was evident at industry events and across major companies. At CES 2026, Boston Dynamics and Hyundai demonstrated the Atlas humanoid robot, slated for mass production in 2028. BMW announced the deployment of Figure‑brand humanoid robots on its South Carolina plant, handling sheet‑metal parts for ten‑hour shifts and processing over 90,000 parts daily, with plans to expand to European facilities. Amazon’s warehouse robot fleet reached one million units in 2025, underscoring the scaling of physical AI in logistics. However, a fatal accident in a South Korean agricultural‑logistics centre, where a pallet‑handling robot misidentified a worker as a box, highlighted serious safety and liability concerns, prompting calls for clearer responsibility frameworks.

Overall, the period shows accelerating adoption of physical AI robots in manufacturing and logistics worldwide, accompanied by growing attention to safety and regulatory issues.