Silicon Valley's new slogan: Let's get physical

Silicon Valley is rapidly shifting focus from AI language models to physical robotics, with major tech firms racing to develop humanoid robots capable of performing real-world tasks. At Nvidia’s GTC Taipei event, the company announced a standard humanoid robot reference design for academic researchers, combining a Unitree robot body, five-fingered hands, and Nvidia’s onboard computing software. The design aims to streamline development as demand for general-purpose humanoids grows, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang calling it a 'multitrillion-dollar economic opportunity.' OpenAI is also doubling down on robotics after abandoning its 2020 robotic hand project, now training robotic arms for household tasks as part of a broader humanoid robot initiative. The company has posted job openings for roles including machine learning engineers and 3D printing technicians. Meanwhile, Meta acquired Assured Robot Intelligence last month to bolster its own robotics efforts, signaling broader industry consolidation. Startups like Figure AI, valued at $39 billion, are pushing boundaries with viral demos, such as humanoids sorting packages for retail giant Catalyst Brands (parent company of JCPenney and Brooks Brothers). The company secured a commercial deal to deploy robots in logistics networks, reflecting growing industry confidence in real-world applications. Venture capital investment in robotics and physical AI has skyrocketed from $4 billion in 2019 to $26 billion in 2025, with over $23 billion raised so far in 2026. Competitors including Tesla and specialized startups are also investing heavily, turning robotics into a high-stakes technological arms race. The shift toward 'physical AI'—AI systems interacting with the real world—marks a pivotal moment for the industry, with companies aiming to integrate robots into infrastructure, households, and workplaces within the next decade.