Humanoid Robots Enter Factories as Workers Raise Concerns Over Job Security

Humanoid robots are moving from demonstrations into factories, attracting billions in investment, while workers increasingly demand job protections as automation begins reshaping manufacturing and logistics.

Humanoid Robots Move Into Real-World Factory Jobs

Humanoid robots are rapidly moving beyond laboratory demonstrations and entering real manufacturing and logistics environments. Their growing use is attracting billions of dollars from investors while raising concerns among workers about the future of employment.

A notable example came from BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, where two Figure AI Figure 02 robots reportedly worked 10-hour weekday shifts for 11 months during 2025.

The robots handled more than 90,000 sheet-metal components and contributed to the production of over 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles. They completed approximately 1,250 operating hours with reported placement accuracy exceeding 99%.

Why Companies Are Investing in Humanoid Robots

The appeal of humanoid robots comes from their ability to perform repetitive physical tasks for long periods while maintaining consistent performance.

Manufacturing comparisons cited in the source material estimate the operating cost of the robots at around $25 per hour. Unlike human employees, machines do not require sick leave or overtime payments.

Successful factory trials are encouraging manufacturers to consider expanding humanoid robot programmes to additional facilities. BMW, for example, has announced further plans to explore humanoid robotics at European plants.

Billions Pour Into the Humanoid Robotics Industry

The rapid expansion of factory deployments is being accompanied by unprecedented investment.

During the first half of 2026, humanoid robotics startups worldwide attracted approximately $4.39 billion in funding, according to market data cited in the source material.

This amount is higher than the funding raised during any complete calendar year before it. The sector also experienced significant growth in 2025, when investment reportedly tripled compared with 2024.

The industry was considerably smaller earlier in the previous decade. Funding stood at around $10 million in 2017 and 2018 and approximately $40 million in 2019.

By 2023, investment had reached roughly $440 million, demonstrating how quickly investor interest has accelerated.

Major Companies Attract Huge Investments

Several robotics companies have secured substantial funding as investors bet on the combination of artificial intelligence and physical automation.

Figure AI has emerged as one of the most heavily funded humanoid robotics companies. The company has raised more than $1.7 billion in reported capital and attracted major investors, including Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI and Jeff Bezos.

Other companies have also announced or pursued large funding rounds. Skild AI raised $1.4 billion in January 2026, while Apptronik expanded its Series A funding to more than $935 million.

European robotics company NEURA Robotics has reportedly been exploring a major funding round, while Physical Intelligence, which focuses on AI software and robotic control systems, has also been linked to plans for additional investment.

Humanoid Robots Shift From Demos to Production

The biggest change in the industry is the move from experimental demonstrations to regular workplace operations.

BMW’s experience with Figure 02 has been followed by additional robotics initiatives. The company announced plans involving AEON, a wheeled humanoid developed by Hexagon Robotics, at its Leipzig facility in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz is also testing Apptronik’s Apollo at its Digital Factory Campus in Berlin-Marienfelde. Apollo is designed to handle heavy materials and uses replaceable battery packs and force-control technology intended to enable safer cooperation with human workers.

In logistics, Agility Robotics’ Digit has reportedly surpassed the 100,000-tote milestone at a GXO fulfilment facility under a Robots-as-a-Service model.

Tesla has also outlined plans to deploy its Optimus humanoid robots internally.

Faster Returns Make Automation More Attractive

The economics of humanoid robotics are becoming another factor driving adoption.

Industry analyses cited in the source material suggest that estimated return-on-investment periods for humanoid robot deployments have shortened considerably compared with earlier years.

As hardware costs decline and artificial intelligence improves robots’ ability to perform different tasks, companies may find it increasingly practical to automate activities that previously required human labour.

This could make humanoid robots attractive for factories that need flexible automation rather than machines designed for only one specific task.

Workers Push Back Against Robot Deployment

The rapid adoption of humanoid robots has also triggered concerns among workers.

One of the strongest examples has emerged in South Korea, where Hyundai Motor workers staged partial strikes during a wider labour dispute that included demands for employment protections as the company prepares for humanoid robot deployment.

Workers have sought guarantees related to job security, compensation and working conditions. The dispute highlights growing concerns that robots could replace human workers or reduce the number of available manufacturing jobs.

Hyundai has announced ambitious plans to produce 30,000 humanoid robots annually by 2028 and has outlined plans to deploy Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robots at its Georgia facility.

Workers Are Also Helping Train the Robots

The labour debate extends beyond the factories where humanoid robots operate. AI robotics companies need large amounts of real-world data to teach robots how to perform complicated physical activities such as welding, stitching and handling materials.

According to reporting cited in the source material, companies are collecting videos of human workers performing these tasks to train robotic systems. Some of this data collection involves workers in India.

This creates an unusual situation in which human labour is helping develop the training data that could eventually allow machines to automate some of the same jobs.

The Future of Work Is Becoming a Key Question

Humanoid robotics is developing at the intersection of artificial intelligence, manufacturing and labour economics.

For businesses, robots can potentially improve productivity, reduce operating costs and perform repetitive or physically demanding tasks. For workers, however, rapid automation raises questions about job security, wages, retraining and the distribution of productivity gains.

As humanoid robots move into more factories and warehouses, the debate is likely to shift from whether the technology works to how humans and machines will share the workplace.

Conclusion

Humanoid robots are rapidly progressing from experimental projects to real-world industrial applications. Massive investment, improving AI capabilities and successful factory trials are accelerating adoption. At the same time, worker protests and concerns over employment show that the technology is creating a major labour debate. The future of humanoid robotics will therefore depend not only on technical progress but also on how companies, governments and workers manage the transition.