Andie Zhang on Why Industrial Robots Still Beat Humanoids
Automated Podcast 1:01:13
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“Humanoid robots are designed to do many things. The problem is that they don’t do any of these things very well.”
That is the challenge Andie Zhang sees at the center of the humanoid robotics race.
In this episode of Automated, recorded at the inaugural Davos Tech Summit, Brian Heater speaks with Andie, Global Portfolio and Technology Manager for Collaborative Robots at ABB, about why industrial robot arms are not going away and why factories are unlikely to be filled entirely with humanoids.
Industrial manufacturers measure robots by speed, precision, reliability, safety, and return on investment. Andie explains why a humanoid may be able to perform many different tasks but still lose to a specialized industrial robot that can complete one task faster, more accurately, and at a lower cost.
They also examine one of the least discussed challenges facing humanoid robots: safety. A human shape does not automatically make a robot safe to operate beside people. Humanoids still need industrial-grade safety systems, reliable human-robot interaction, and a way to remain stable if power is interrupted.
The conversation explores where physical AI can make a real difference. Traditional programming still works well for structured and repetitive applications. Physical AI becomes valuable when robots must interpret sensor information, adapt to changing conditions, or handle flexible and unpredictable objects.
Brian and Andie discuss labor shortages in China and other manufacturing regions, how cobots are changing welding jobs, why workers will still be needed to teach and manage robots, and why system integrators remain essential.
They also explore dexterous robot hands, the challenge of controlling a five-finger gripper, and why the best future robot may not look human at all.
Finally, Andie reflects on becoming the first person responsible for cobots at ABB, building an internal robotics incubator, visiting more than 100 customer plants, and bringing robots directly to small businesses that had never used automation.
KEY MOMENTS
00:00 Why humanoids still cannot compete with industrial robots
02:30 Andie’s path from engineering to human-robot interaction
06:09 Why customer problems must drive robotics development
08:40 The tradeoff between productivity and flexibility
11:08 How simulation reduces factory downtime
13:28 Combining RobotStudio with NVIDIA Omniverse
15:30 Why physical AI will not replace traditional automation
16:58 The factory tasks robots still cannot perform
18:45 How physical AI unlocks previously impossible automation
19:37 Using AI vision to handle flexible clothing packages
21:39 Why labor shortages are accelerating automation in China
23:31 How cobots are changing welding jobs
26:10 Training workers to operate and program robots
28:16 Why industrial robot arms are not going away
28:46 Why robot form should follow function
31:06 The humanoid safety problem
33:17 Building an internal robotics incubator at ABB
34:24 Taking a robot directly to small businesses
35:52 Becoming the first person responsible for cobots at ABB
38:07 What Andie learned from more than 100 customer plants
40:33 When physical AI is actually the right tool
42:38 Designing robots around the task
45:50 Why dexterous gripping remains a robotics holy grail
46:47 How workers will teach increasingly complex robots
48:15 Why cobots did not eliminate system integrators
49:33 How SoftBank could accelerate ABB’s physical AI plans
52:39 Taking a full-time career break for parenthood
54:53 How job requirements exclude women from robotics
55:50 Why diverse teams build better products
59:04 Hiring people for transferable skills
1:00:20 Advice for people trying to enter robotics
Connect with Andie Zhang
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andiezhang/
Learn more about ABB Robotics
https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics
Explore ABB collaborative robots
https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/products/robots/collaborative-robots
Learn more about RobotStudio HyperReality
https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/innovation/robotstudio-hyperreality
We’d love to hear from you.
Have thoughts or guest suggestions?
Reach us at podcast@automate.org.
You can find the transcript and more episodes of Automated at automated.fm.
Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation.
Subscribe today and leave a review on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Automated Newsletter.
https://www.youtube.com/@automatedpodcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automated-with-brian-heater/id1837762221
https://open.spotify.com/show/60olq6brlBEIJWggx2fMR6
https://www.automate.org/automation/automated-newsletter
You can also find us on:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/automated-podcast-by-a3/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/automatedpod/
That is the challenge Andie Zhang sees at the center of the humanoid robotics race.
In this episode of Automated, recorded at the inaugural Davos Tech Summit, Brian Heater speaks with Andie, Global Portfolio and Technology Manager for Collaborative Robots at ABB, about why industrial robot arms are not going away and why factories are unlikely to be filled entirely with humanoids.
Industrial manufacturers measure robots by speed, precision, reliability, safety, and return on investment. Andie explains why a humanoid may be able to perform many different tasks but still lose to a specialized industrial robot that can complete one task faster, more accurately, and at a lower cost.
They also examine one of the least discussed challenges facing humanoid robots: safety. A human shape does not automatically make a robot safe to operate beside people. Humanoids still need industrial-grade safety systems, reliable human-robot interaction, and a way to remain stable if power is interrupted.
The conversation explores where physical AI can make a real difference. Traditional programming still works well for structured and repetitive applications. Physical AI becomes valuable when robots must interpret sensor information, adapt to changing conditions, or handle flexible and unpredictable objects.
Brian and Andie discuss labor shortages in China and other manufacturing regions, how cobots are changing welding jobs, why workers will still be needed to teach and manage robots, and why system integrators remain essential.
They also explore dexterous robot hands, the challenge of controlling a five-finger gripper, and why the best future robot may not look human at all.
Finally, Andie reflects on becoming the first person responsible for cobots at ABB, building an internal robotics incubator, visiting more than 100 customer plants, and bringing robots directly to small businesses that had never used automation.
KEY MOMENTS
00:00 Why humanoids still cannot compete with industrial robots
02:30 Andie’s path from engineering to human-robot interaction
06:09 Why customer problems must drive robotics development
08:40 The tradeoff between productivity and flexibility
11:08 How simulation reduces factory downtime
13:28 Combining RobotStudio with NVIDIA Omniverse
15:30 Why physical AI will not replace traditional automation
16:58 The factory tasks robots still cannot perform
18:45 How physical AI unlocks previously impossible automation
19:37 Using AI vision to handle flexible clothing packages
21:39 Why labor shortages are accelerating automation in China
23:31 How cobots are changing welding jobs
26:10 Training workers to operate and program robots
28:16 Why industrial robot arms are not going away
28:46 Why robot form should follow function
31:06 The humanoid safety problem
33:17 Building an internal robotics incubator at ABB
34:24 Taking a robot directly to small businesses
35:52 Becoming the first person responsible for cobots at ABB
38:07 What Andie learned from more than 100 customer plants
40:33 When physical AI is actually the right tool
42:38 Designing robots around the task
45:50 Why dexterous gripping remains a robotics holy grail
46:47 How workers will teach increasingly complex robots
48:15 Why cobots did not eliminate system integrators
49:33 How SoftBank could accelerate ABB’s physical AI plans
52:39 Taking a full-time career break for parenthood
54:53 How job requirements exclude women from robotics
55:50 Why diverse teams build better products
59:04 Hiring people for transferable skills
1:00:20 Advice for people trying to enter robotics
Connect with Andie Zhang
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andiezhang/
Learn more about ABB Robotics
https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics
Explore ABB collaborative robots
https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/products/robots/collaborative-robots
Learn more about RobotStudio HyperReality
https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/innovation/robotstudio-hyperreality
We’d love to hear from you.
Have thoughts or guest suggestions?
Reach us at podcast@automate.org.
You can find the transcript and more episodes of Automated at automated.fm.
Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation.
Subscribe today and leave a review on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Automated Newsletter.
https://www.youtube.com/@automatedpodcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automated-with-brian-heater/id1837762221
https://open.spotify.com/show/60olq6brlBEIJWggx2fMR6
https://www.automate.org/automation/automated-newsletter
You can also find us on:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/automated-podcast-by-a3/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/automatedpod/
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