The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, in his first appearance at Davos, said Tesla could start selling its Optimus robots next year.

Elon Musk shocks Davos by predicting robots will soon outnumber humans, getting bizarre reactions over an AI-driven future.

A practical look at the top robots and humanoids making waves, including Tesla Optimus and Boston Dynamics Atlas.

Many researchers agree that there has been a step change in humanoid capability over the past five years, owing to cheaper parts as well as innovations such as improved battery power and artificial-intelligence algorithms, which allow for better perception and autonomy.

Unitree, Agibot, and Sharpa introduced humanoid robots at CES 2026. While one model is focused on entertainment, another features an advanced robotic hand.

"The benefits that robots deliver, such as tackling labour shortages, taking away routine tasks, or opening up new career opportunities, mean that they will be accepted as allies in the workplace," the IFR said in its forecast. "At the same time, robots are a way to make a workplace much more attractive to young people."

The Hangzhou-based firm’s output far outstripped the roughly 150 units each shipped by Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics last year.

By learning from human touch, robots can grip objects more safely and adapt to real-world conditions without massive training data.