Do robots really need legs?
Description
Are humanoid robots the future… or a $100B mistake?
Over 100 companies—from Meta to Amazon—are betting big on humanoids. But are we chasing a sci-fi dream that’s not practical or profitable?
In this TechFirst episode, I chat with Bren Pierce, robotics OG and CEO of Kinisi Robots. We cover:
- Why legs might be overhyped
- How LLMs are transforming robots into agents
- The real cost (and complexity) of robotic hands
- Why warehouse robots work best with wheels
- The geopolitical robot arms race between China, the US, and Europe
- Hot takes, historical context, and a glimpse into the next 10 years of AI + robotics.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Are humanoids a dumb idea?
1:30 – Why legs might not matter (yet)
5:00 – LLMs as the real unlock
12:00 – The hand is 50% of the challenge
17:00 – Speed limits = compute limits
23:00 – Robot geopolitics & supply chains
30:00 – What the next 5 years looks like
Subscribe for more on AI, robotics, and tech megatrends.
United States
