Nvidia Seeks to Make Humanoid AI Robots Safer Around Humans

• Europe’s robot scene is heating up after the Vivatech trade fair in Paris, where humanoid robots such as Enchanted Tools’ Mirokai – a social robot with orange ears and blue eyes that can greet visitors in more than 50 languages – were shown performing tasks ranging from grape harvesting to hospital reception.
• New European players, including Germany’s Neura, which builds industrial and household humanoids, announced a US$1.4 billion funding round, positioning themselves to fill niche markets that Chinese giants dominate; in 2025, about 87 percent of the roughly 13,000 humanoid robots deployed worldwide came from Chinese factories, according to consultancy Omdia.
• At the same time, Nvidia disclosed that its Halos software, adapted from self‑driving technology, will give future humanoid robots better situational awareness and safer interaction with people.
• The commercial market is also expanding: the Unitree G1 is available online for around US$16,000, Agility Robotics’ Digit sells for roughly US$250,000 to industrial clients, and 1X Technologies is opening pre‑orders for its Neo home‑assistant at US$20,000 or a subscription model, with shipments expected later in 2026.
• Meanwhile, some startups, such as Genesis AI, argue that the humanoid form factor is overrated and are focusing on wheeled robots like Eno that prioritize utility over human‑like appearance.

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