Do androids dream of electric sheep? Very soon we might be able to ask them directly. That’s according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who believes that the rollout of humanoid robots is less than five years away. The comments came at the annual GTC developer conference, during which the chipmaker boss was asked by reporters when AI could be considered ubiquitous.
Huang also unveiled a new innovation from Nvidia, known as Isaac GR00T N1, an open-source foundation model that promises to accelerate the burgeoning humanoid robot race. Across the world, tech companies are doubling their efforts to win the space, with a number of landmark developments taking place this week alone.
The return of President Donald Trump to the White House, and subsequent tariff wars with Europe and China, has undoubtedly given the humanoid robotics movement a shot in the arm.
Humanoid Robots Will Be Ubiquitous in a Few Years, Says Nvidia Boss
The widespread use of humanoid robots is less than five years away, says the Nvidia CEO. According to Huang, who heads up the global chipmaker, robots that resemble humans could become a fixture in everyday life in just a few years’ time.
The remarks came after a keynote at the annual Nvidia developer conference, during which Huang was asked by reporters which signs would indicate that AI had become ubiquitous. Said the CEO: “When, literally, humanoid robots are wandering round, which is not five years away. This is five-years-away problem, this is a few-years-away problem.”
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Heralded as the “Super Bowl of AI,” GTC 2025 brings together thought leaders and industry players from the world of AI for a four-day long conference. During a two-hour long keynote earlier in the day, Huang reflected on the “extraordinary progress” that AI has made in recent years.
Chipmaker Outlines Vision for Robot Future
As part of his address, Huang introduced Isaac GR00T N1, an open-source foundation model for the development of humanoid robots. In order to develop simulated training data for robots, this model will be paired with Cosmos AI, another Nvidia innovation.
Through Isaac GR00T N1 and his remarks, Huang appeared to set out a vision for the near-future in which humanoid robots are an intrinsic part of the human workforce. Elaborating on his comments, he stated: “I think it ought to go to factories first. And the reason for that is because the domain is much more guard-railed, and the use case is much more specific.”
He continued: “The value of it is very, very easy to determine. The going rate for renting a robot is probably $100,000 and I think it’s pretty good economics.” The news is unlikely to be welcomed in some quarters, with fears mounting that AI will begin to take over more and more jobs in the coming years.
Trump’s Return Sees Race Heat Up
Huang’s comments don’t exist in a vacuum. Across the world, the race to develop advanced humanoid robots is progressing at breakneck speed. This week, European robotics company Neura Robotics revealed that it was to launch the so-called “best robot on the market” as early as June, known as 4NE-1.
Meanwhile, the newest iteration of Boston Dynamics’s Atlas robot was filmed breakdancing in a video posted to YouTube on March 19. And Apollo, a human-like machine created by Apptronik, this week assembled an engine part in a live demonstration of its prowess.
Since Trump returned to the White House, tech activity has reached fever pitch in the US, with companies across the space investing heavily in innovation and development. Against a backdrop of unfolding international trade wars, there’s an extra incentive for this increase in activity – putting US tech squarely on the map.
