Humanoid Robots For War And Work: Startup Plans To Build 50,000 By End Of 2027 - Forbes

The most recent headlines show a surge of commercial activity and high‑profile deployments for humanoid robots. On 22 December 2025, Italian firm Oversonic Robotics announced a supply agreement with semiconductor giant STMicroelectronics to place its custom RoBee cognitive humanoid robots in the production and logistics lines of several ST plants worldwide, marking the first operational integration of such robots in the semiconductor sector. Two days earlier, Galbot disclosed a $300 million financing round that lifted its valuation to $3 billion and confirmed large‑scale orders from partners including CATL, Bosch, Toyota and Hyundai for autonomous humanoid units on manufacturing floors and in hospital settings. In mid‑December, a startup highlighted in Forbes revealed plans to build 50,000 humanoid robots for both military and civilian use by the end of 2027, citing recent acquisitions in AI and next‑generation actuators that accelerate development. On 20 December, Forbes also reported the launch of the $40,500 “T800” humanoid, touted as one of the strongest robots on the market and slated for retail‑staff roles in a dedicated cyber‑store. Earlier in the month, CATL announced that its Moz humanoid robot had matched skilled‑worker performance in mass EV‑battery production, overtaking Tesla’s Optimus in factory deployment. Meanwhile, industry commentary from CNET and The Robot Report has raised safety and strength concerns, noting lawsuits over claims that some humanoid prototypes could fracture a human skull and emphasizing design choices—such as Richtech’s wheeled Dex platform—to prioritize battery life and practical industrial use over bipedal locomotion. Together, these developments illustrate rapid scaling, diversified applications, and growing scrutiny of humanoid robotics as they move from prototype to widespread commercial adoption.

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