(A)I, Robot: How artificial intelligence is about to take robotics to the next level

This year, all signs point to one sweeping transformation: AI-powered everything, starting with robotics. Our new Top tech trends of 2025 report explores what could be next for this bustling technology.

What’s everyone saying?

• Hype and buzz around robotics have intensified in recent months, capturing public and media attention. Notable examples include Tesla’s Optimus autonomous humanoid robots or Jensen Huang’s NVIDIA keynote at CES 2025 and his focus on humanoid robotics.

• While robotics is not a new field, the AI craze is significantly increasing public attention and expectations. And with good reason: AI’s rapid evolution is genuinely accelerating technological progress in robotics, leading to smarter and more adaptable machines. Beyond advances in AI and Gen AI, this progress is also being fueled by innovations in computer vision, natural language processing, and more, opening exciting new prospects for the field.

What do we have to say?

• AI and Gen AI are acting as major accelerators for robotics innovation, with the convergence of AI and robotics unlocking tremendous opportunities across industries.

• Gen AI’s capabilities, which make it useful to humans, are equally transformative for robotics. Its multimodal capabilities enable seamless integration of data from multiple sources, enhancing robotic decision-making and adaptability, while large language models bring human-like conversational abilities that can facilitate smoother interaction and interfacing between humans and robots. Gen AI also enhances versatility in robotics by simplifying retraining processes – for example, using Gen AI to train robots on new tasks through video demonstrations.

• And while humanoid robots often capture public attention due to their flashy and futuristic appeal, they are only the tip of the iceberg in the robotics field. In fact, they account for about 10% of the industry, with the broader market dominated by collaborative robots (cobots), autonomous machines, and industrial robotics.

• All in all, the global AI robotics market is due to see significant growth, driven by technological innovations, industrial automation, labor shortages, and the need to reduce safety risks and demands on human workers. In fact, the size of the market could reach $200 billion by 2032.

• This transformation will fundamentally change the way we work. With robotics creeping towards full autonomy and AI taking on complex decision-making roles, the future of work may see a shift in traditional hierarchies. Advances in natural language processing and machine vision will boost robot capabilities to take on ever more complex roles within the modern workforce.

• But a few barriers remain to adoption at scale, including integration difficulties with existing systems, regulatory or safety issues, and costs.

Who’s doing it right?

• Launched in 2024, Capgemini Engineering’s Intelligent Industry Lab in Cadiz (Spain) allows us to co-design scalable, innovative Industry 4.0 solutions with our clients, helping them take advantage of the potential that digital technologies can offer as they mature. The lab provides an ideal environment for our clients to develop and test solutions without affecting their day-to-day operations, with collaborative robotics among the many technologies tested and implemented on-site.

• Many organizations are harnessing AI-driven advances in robotics to transform their operational processes.

• In Beijing, for instance, Xiaomi Technology’s latest fully automated, AI-managed smart factory will be able to manufacture 10 million smartphones a year without any human intervention.

• While many companies are venturing into humanoid robotics, Figure’s “Figure” line of general-purpose humanoid robots, which incorporate OpenAI’s GPT large language model, stand out for their versatility and performance.

• In Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University is training robots to perform surgical procedures just as well as human surgeons simply by watching footage of surgical operations, suggesting a new age in medical innovation.

• And the University of Liverpool has successfully used AI to build and train autonomous multi-purpose mobile robots that can run a chemistry lab and conduct experiments on their own.

What’s the bottom line?

• With unprecedented advancements in robotics, quantum computing, AI, biotechnology, and more, the story of the tech ecosystem’s swift evolution is a story of convergence. The interdependence of these technologies creates both immense opportunities and complex challenges.

• As Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat noted recently in Davos, organizations that approach technology with a strategic, business-driven mindset are better positioned to identify and harness the technologies most critical to their goals and ultimately competitive advantage.

• To this end, companies need a partner with a vision, who can help them anticipate emerging trends and integrate the right mix of technologies to build end-to-end composable solutions. A partner that can cut through the hype and help clients understand where they should invest, to ensure they can adapt, innovate, and lead their industries. Capgemini strives to bring just that kind of expertise to the table, cutting through the noise to find the right trends and opportunities.

Looking for more?

• AI is driving the next generation of autonomous robots, unlocking endless possibilities for applications to be built on advanced robotic platforms. At CES 2025, we demoed our Visual and Interactive Service Oriented Robot (VISOR), whose dynamic decision-making, seamless voice interaction, and real-time processing make him an invaluable tool for a range of industries, from retail to hospitality, healthcare, logistics, surveillance, and elderly care.

• Looking for unexpected applications of AI in robotics? Synapse Product Development (part of Capgemini Invent) has developed AI-powered robotic emotional support animals for people facing health issues such as dementia.

• But robotics is just one of the areas in which AI is accelerating transformation at an unprecedented pace. Our Top tech trends of 2025 dives into four more key AI trends to expect this year: the rise of the super-agent; AI-powered attacks and defenses; how AI-driven energy consumption will boost nuclear energy investment; and the strategic role AI will play in supply chains.

• Want to dive into these trends in more detail? TechnoVision, our program on emerging technologies, scouts out the right tech, looking at use cases and how to best apply them, and where clients should invest. This year’s report (going live on Feb. 3) takes an in-depth look at 37 trends – a must-read for CTIOs.

And you, what are you saying?

How is your organization incorporating AI-powered robotics or exploring innovative applications of AI to enhance its operations? Share your insights and experiences in the comments section below!