BMW Tests Humanoid Robots as US Blocks Chinese Models

Industrial automation is advancing through the integration of humanoid robots, though a gap remains between athletic performance and workplace efficiency. BMW is currently testing robots from Figure AI at its Spartanburg plant to move components. Logistics VP Ulrich Wieland noted that while the technology is promising, the machines "they’re still slower than humans" in practical industrial applications.

In contrast to industrial trials, the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing demonstrated extreme speed, featuring a robot that ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, beating the human world record. Industry leaders maintain that the primary value of these machines lies in complex manual tasks like sorting packages or connecting cables rather than athletic feats.

This technological shift coincides with rising economic and security concerns. The World Economic Forum forecasts that automation will displace 5 million more jobs than it creates by 2030. Simultaneously, the Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots to its Covered List, blocking new models from Chinese manufacturers on national security grounds.