The $8,976 Robot Body and the Race to Build Its Brain
Why robot bodies are getting cheap, why intelligence is still the hard part, and where physical AI goes next.
TL;DR
- Robot Digit has moved over 100,000 totes in a GXO warehouse.
- BMW has utilized robots from Figure in its Spartanburg factory for logistics and production support.
- Unitree offers humanoid robots online for prices starting around $4,900, with estimated parts cost for a higher-end model at $8,976.
- Unitree sold 5,215 humanoids in 2025, and the company recently had a successful IPO.
- Chinese companies like AgiBot, Unitree, and UBTECH lead the global humanoid robot market, which saw approximately 13,000 shipments in 2025.
- Current AI models struggle with complex physical tasks for robots, such as standing up autonomously.
- Specialized robotic software is currently more effective for handling balance and movement, while AI focuses on higher-level decisions.