Figure is intentionally designing its robots to avoid two extremes: menacing appearances and overly friendly looks with "googly eyes." The goal is to position the humanoid as a sophisticated, high-end piece of technology—a tool for humanity—rather than trying to fool users into thinking it's a toy or a person.
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According to Shopify's CEO, having an AI bot join a meeting as a "fake human" is a social misstep akin to showing up with your fly down. This highlights a critical distinction for AI product design: users accept integrated tools (in-app recording), but reject autonomous agents that violate social norms by acting as an uninvited entourage.
A significant portion of content released by competitors in the humanoid space is not autonomous. Instead, the robots are being remotely controlled (teleoperated) by a human. This is a crucial, often hidden, detail that misrepresents the true state of a company's AI capabilities.
The 1X robot's teleoperation, often seen as a sign of immaturity, is actually a key feature. It allows for both a "human-in-the-loop" expert service for complex tasks and personal remote control, like checking on a pet, creating immediate utility beyond full autonomy.
The future of humanoid robotics is not in our homes. While they will revolutionize structured B2B environments like 'dark' factories and data centers, consumer adoption will lag significantly due to a fundamental lack of desire for robots in personal, nuanced spaces.
The terminology for AI tools (agent, co-pilot, engineer) is not just branding; it shapes user expectations. An "engineer" implies autonomous, asynchronous problem-solving, distinct from a "co-pilot" that assists or an "agent" that performs single-shot tasks. This positioning is critical for user adoption.
While many pursue human-indistinguishable AI, ElevenLabs' CEO argues this misses the point for use cases like customer support. Users prioritize fast, accurate resolutions over a perfectly "human" interaction, making the uncanny valley a secondary concern to core functionality.
Leading robotics companies are taking different paths to market. Boston Dynamics targets industrial use cases (e.g., DHL, BP). In contrast, both Figure AI and 1X are now focused on the home, but 1X is moving more aggressively by accepting consumer pre-orders first.
The founder of robotics OS Lightberry argues that the industry's "ChatGPT moment" won't be when a robot can fold laundry. Instead, it will be when robots are commonly seen interacting with people in public roles—as shop assistants, event staff, or security—achieving social acceptance first.
A strong aversion to ChatGPT's overly complimentary and obsequious tone suggests a segment of users desires functional, neutral AI interaction. This highlights a need for customizable AI personas that cater to users who prefer a tool-like experience over a simulated, fawning personality.
The hosts' visceral reactions to Sora—describing it as making their "skin crawl" and feeling "unsafe"—suggest the Uncanny Valley is a psychological hurdle. Overcoming this negative, almost primal response to AI-generated humans may be a bigger challenge for adoption than achieving perfect photorealism.
