Famed roboticist says humanoid robot bubble is doomed to burst

Renowned roboticist Rodney Brooks, who co-founded iRobot and worked at MIT for decades, warns that billions being invested in humanoid robot startups like Tesla's and Figure are destined for failure. Brooks argues that teaching robots dexterity through human demonstration videos is "pure fantasy thinking" because human hands contain 17,000 specialized touch receptors that robots can't replicate, and humanoid robots pose safety risks when they fall due to their massive energy requirements. He predicts successful robots in 15 years will abandon human form entirely, using wheels and multiple specialized arms instead.