It might still be early days in robotics — there aren’t too many humanoid robots deployed in the wild at the moment — but things could change very quickly.
A bold prediction from prominent US AI and crypto czar David Sacks suggests a revolutionary leap in humanoid robotics is imminent. Sacks envisions a near future, potentially within the next five years, where humanoid robots possess the capability to perform the full spectrum of physical tasks currently undertaken by humans, heralding a transformation that borders on science fiction.
Sacks’ comments paint a vivid picture of this impending reality. “The robots are coming. I promise you, the robots are coming,” he stated emphatically on Fox News. He pointed to tangible progress already being made: “What we’re seeing right now are some very interesting prototypes from a number of companies, like the Optimus from Tesla. They can walk around, do things; they can fold laundry.”
The timeline, according to Sacks, is aggressive. “I’d say that within the next five years, it’s possible that everyone could own a robot,” he projected, underscoring his conviction: “I think this is a technology that’s definitely coming.”
The core of his argument lies in the potential for these machines to achieve human-level physical competence. “A humanoid robot, in theory, will be able to do anything that a human can physically do,” Sacks explained. This, he believes, will be profoundly disruptive. “This will be transformative – we’re getting into science fiction a little bit – but it’s coming in the next five years.”
Detailing how these robots might acquire such versatile skills, Sacks highlighted the power of observational learning, a cornerstone of recent AI advancements. “It’ll be able to watch a YouTube video, and anything it sees a human doing, it should be able to mimic,” he suggested. He further elaborated on a more personalized training approach: “And if you let your personal robot follow you around, it could mimic your behaviour, and you’ll be able to teach it to do things.”
The implications of Sacks’ forecast are vast and multifaceted. If humanoid robots can indeed perform any physical task a human can, the impact on labor markets could be unprecedented. Industries ranging from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and domestic assistance could undergo radical shifts. The concept of “work” itself might be redefined, potentially freeing up human capital for more creative, strategic, or interpersonal roles, or conversely, leading to significant job displacement if not managed proactively.
Sacks’ five-year timeline, while optimistic, aligns with an accelerating trend in AI and robotics. Companies like Tesla with its Optimus, Figure AI (which recently partnered with OpenAI and BMW), 1X, Boston Dynamics (now showcasing an all-electric Atlas) and Sanctuary AI are all making rapid strides in developing more agile, intelligent, and capable humanoid robots. The integration of sophisticated AI models, particularly large language models (LLMs) for understanding and instruction, and advanced sensor suites for perceiving and interacting with the world, is a key enabler of this progress. Recently, Nvidia’s Project GR00T (Generalist Robot 00 Technology) also signaled a major push towards creating a foundational AI platform for humanoid robots. In China, robots are already running marathons and participating in MMA fights.
While the vision of robots seamlessly mimicking human actions learned from YouTube videos is still under development, the convergence of AI and robotics is undeniably accelerating. Sacks’ prediction, therefore, serves as both an exciting prospect and a critical call to prepare for a future where the line between human and robotic physical capabilities becomes increasingly blurred. Whether this five-year horizon is met precisely or not, the direction of travel is clear: intelligent, versatile humanoid robots are poised to become a significant feature of our world.