Humanoid robots are receiving more attention than almost any other form of physical AI. But Andie Zhang says factory buyers still care more about speed, precision, reliability, safety, and ROI than a human shape. In this episode of Automated, recorded at the inaugural Davos Tech Summit, Brian Heater speaks with Andie, Global Portfolio and Technology Manager for Collaborative Robots at ABB, about why industrial robot arms are not going away, where humanoids still fall short, and how physical AI can unlock factory tasks that traditional automation cannot solve. Andie explains why the form of a robot should follow the job it needs to perform. Humanoids are designed to do many different things, but that versatility does not automatically make them the best option for industrial manufacturing. When a specialized robot can complete the same task faster, more precisely, and at a lower cost, companies have little incentive to pay for additional joints or capabilities that do not improve the application. The conversation also explores how physical AI can expand automation without replacing the systems already working reliably inside factories. Structured and repetitive tasks can still be handled through traditional programming. AI becomes valuable when robots must work in unstructured environments, interpret sensor information, adapt their behavior, or handle flexible objects that cannot be positioned the same way every time. Andie describes how simulation, digital twins, synthetic images, and AI vision are helping manufacturers prepare and test automation systems before deploying them on-site. She also explains how ABB developed an AI-based system that can recognize and pick flexible clothing packages, a task that has traditionally required large numbers of workers because every package looks and behaves differently. Brian and Andie also discuss why labor shortages are accelerating automation around the world. After visiting more than 100 customer plants, Andie says manufacturers consistently turn to robots because they cannot find enough qualified workers. She shares how cobots are helping experienced welders teach robots to perform repetitive welds, allowing companies to increase productivity without removing those workers from the process. They also examine the safety questions surrounding humanoids, the difficulty of developing dexterous five-finger hands, and the importance of making increasingly complex robots usable for factory workers and system integrators. Finally, Andie reflects on becoming the first person responsible for cobots at ABB, building an internal robotics incubator, taking robots directly to small businesses, and creating more opportunities for women and people with transferable skills to enter the robotics industry. Connect with Andie Zhang https://www.linkedin.com/in/andiezhang/ Learn more about ABB Robotics https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics Explore ABB collaborative robots https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/products/robots/collaborative-robots Learn more about RobotStudio HyperReality https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/innovation/robotstudio-hyperreality We’d love to hear from you. Have thoughts or guest suggestions? Reach us at podcast@automate.org. You can find the transcript and more episodes of Automated at automated.fm. Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation. Subscribe today and leave a review on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Automated Newsletter. https://www.youtube.com/@automatedpodcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automated-with-brian-heater/id1837762221 https://open.spotify.com/show/60olq6brlBEIJWggx2fMR6 https://www.automate.org/automation/automated-newsletter You can also find us on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/automated-podcast-by-a3/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/automatedpod/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/automated-podcast-by-a3/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/automatedpod/
