This Humanoid Robot Is a Terrifyingly Competent Office Intern

A Swiss startup has developed software that trains humanoid robots to perform complex office tasks by teaching them individual skills in simulation and then using a master AI algorithm to combine those skills. Rather than relying on a person controlling the robot's movements, the system learns from videos of humans performing different activities and uses reinforcement learning, where computers master tasks through trial and error. This matters because industry analysts say the ability to program humanoids in this way is essential for a viable market, and the software could work across different humanoid forms made by various manufacturers. The advance reflects a broader recognition that advances in AI models, rather than the robots themselves, will determine whether humanoids can significantly impact the economy by replacing human labor.