Robot Talk Episode 126 – Why are we building humanoid robots? - Robohub

The article summarizes a special live episode of the Robot Talk podcast recorded at Imperial College London during the Great Exhibition Road Festival. The discussion centers on the motivations and implications behind building humanoid robots—machines designed to look and act like humans. The episode explores why humanoid robots captivate and sometimes unsettle us, questioning whether this fascination stems from vanity or if these robots could serve meaningful roles in future society. The conversation features three experts: Ben Russell, Curator of Mechanical Engineering at the Science Museum, Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi, Senior Lecturer in Robotics and AI at the University of Hertfordshire, and Petar Kormushev, Director of the Robot Intelligence Lab at Imperial College London. Each brings a unique perspective, from historical and cultural insights to technical expertise in robotics, AI, and machine learning. Their dialogue highlights the rapid advancements in humanoid robotics and the ongoing research aimed at creating adaptable, autonomous robots capable of learning and functioning in dynamic environments. The episode underscores the multidisciplinary nature