While much of the current excitement around artificial intelligence is focused on software and data, robotics is quietly emerging as one of its most transformative – and underestimated – beneficiaries. The fusion of advanced mechanical engineering with AI is enabling robots of all shapes and sizes to become genuinely mobile, and capable of performing a vast array of repetitive tasks traditionally carried out by humans.
From crop picking and security to elderly care, delivery services, domestic chores and even medical procedures, robots are rapidly becoming indispensable across numerous sectors. They offer a compelling value proposition: they work tirelessly, 24/7, without complaint, are non-unionised, and are significantly more cost-effective than their human counterparts.
It is no surprise, then, that Citibank projects robotics to become a multi-trillion-dollar industry by 2050, even suggesting that robots may outnumber humans on the planet within a few short years. This is not merely a trend – it represents a profound shift in how we approach labour, productivity the future of work. In my long investment career, few sectors have matched the sheer potential and excitement that robotics now presents. While much of the current excitement around artificial intelligence is focused on software and data, robotics is quietly emerging as one of its most transformative – and underestimated – beneficiaries.