‘The Great Replacement’: 5 robots replacing human workforce in 2026 - WION
Edited By Abhinav Yadav Published: Jun 04, 2026, 11:59 IST | Updated: Jun 04, 2026, 11:59 IST Advanced humanoids like Figure 01 and Tesla Optimus are entering the workforce in summer 2026.
Key takeaways
- The most recent coverage shows that China’s humanoid‑robot sector is moving from prototype showcases to large‑scale production while buyers remain tentative.
- Lingyi iTech’s new Beijing factory has already built about 300 units and is targeting 10,000 robots this year, with a long‑term goal of 500,000 annually by 2030—a scale that could halve the current $30,000 price tag—but most orders to date are for just one or two machines, and analysts are watching whether companies will place repeat purchases.
- Beijing’s government‑run showroom, opened in August, displays a child‑sized soccer‑playing Booster T1 and a fully adult‑sized R1 Pro that costs roughly $29,400, and cumulative showroom orders have topped 30 million yuan.
- At the same time, the industry is attracting major financing: Standard Bots secured a $200 million Series C that lifted its valuation to $1 billion, and Figure announced a rapid manufacturing ramp‑up that could accelerate delivery of its humanoids for logistics partners such as Catalyst Brands.
- China is also introducing a national digital‑ID system to track each robot’s lifecycle, aiming to improve safety and standardisation.
Buyer next steps
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Edited By Abhinav Yadav
Published: Jun 04, 2026, 11:59 IST | Updated: Jun 04, 2026, 11:59 IST
Advanced humanoids like Figure 01 and Tesla Optimus are entering the workforce in summer 2026. Major companies like BMW and Amazon are using them across factories to handle heavy payloads and automate physical labour. Read more below.
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(Photograph: X)
The automated labour shift 4 / 7
(Photograph: Tesla)
Tesla Optimus Gen 2
Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 features a height of 5 feet 8 inches, a weight of 138 pounds, and a 45-pound payload capacity. It walks at a controlled 1.3 miles per hour to safely navigate dynamic assembly line environments.
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Agility Robotics Digit
The Digit humanoid stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and is purpose-built to lift a 35-pound payload. Live logistics trials show retail giants utilizing it to move inventory totes through narrow warehouse aisles.
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Sanctuary AI Phoenix
The Phoenix robot stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 155 pounds, and can manage a heavy 55-pound payload. It reaches structured walking speeds of up to 3 miles per hour during intensive floor operations.
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(Photograph: Freepik) 1 / 7
(Photograph: X)
The automated labour shift
The transition towards automation is accelerating rapidly across global warehouses and factories during summer 2026. Heavy physical labour is being systematically reassigned to advanced bipedal machines to improve operational efficiency.
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Figure 01
The Figure 01 humanoid stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and operates with a 44-pound payload capacity. This machine provides a continuous five-hour battery runtime to sustain long industrial shifts alongside factory workers.
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Apptronik Apollo
Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, the Apollo robot weighs 160 pounds and handles a substantial 55-pound payload. Industry specifications confirm its deployment by automotive brands for handling internal manufacturing logistics.
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