Bringing humanoids to production

In this talk

1. 1:03

   AI and simulation are bringing physical AI closer

   Lebaredian says agentic AI could speed up digital-twin creation, a major bottleneck in building simulations for physical AI. Homann describes AI capabilities moving from cloud systems into factories and robots. Nikolaides says BMW uses a digital twin of its global production for virtual planning and reports that humanoids helped build 30,000 X3s at Spartanburg.

2. 6:27

   Adaptive robots need data and simulated experience

   Panelists expect more applications, faster learning, and production systems that can adjust plans when conditions change. Homann points to robotics foundation models that combine vision, 3D understanding, and actuator data. Lebaredian argues that realistic simulation can give robots safe practice across rare scenarios, and that AI coding agents could automate building simulated environments; Nikolaides stresses that companies first need clean, consistent, accessible production data.

3. 20:24

   Reliability, cost, and standards shape deployment

   Nikolaides says robots must work reliably through full shifts and become economically viable for wider industrial use. Homann highlights shared standards for robot identity, monitoring, security, and fleet management, alongside software practices such as CI/CD and controlled updates. Lebaredian identifies manufacturing robots at scale as a key challenge for reducing costs and building durable systems.

4. 27:53

   Production use cases and safety requirements

   BMW has tested a humanoid loading sheet metal into a machine and is piloting battery assembly work at Leipzig, with logistics as another possible application area. On safety, Lebaredian calls for protections across the full technology stack, open standards, and simulation-based testing before deployment. Homann adds that safe operation must include maintenance and software updates, while Nikolaides says early industrial safety results have been encouraging.

5. 35:36

   Human acceptance and work need deliberate planning

   Nikolaides says workers in Spartanburg and Leipzig showed curiosity and enthusiasm about working alongside humanoids, provided safety is addressed. Lebaredian expects more natural collaboration as robots become safer and better able to adapt to people. Homann calls for broader discussion about which work belongs to people, where robots can help, and how the two can work together.