Foxconn, Nvidia said to deploy humanoid robots by early 2026

Foxconn and Nvidia are in talks to deploy humanoid robots at a new factory in Houston that will produce Nvidia’s AI servers, sources say.

The deployment is expected by the first quarter of 2026. This would be the first use of humanoid robots in Nvidia product manufacturing and Foxconn’s AI server production line.

Foxconn has been developing its own humanoid robots with Nvidia and has tested models from China’s UBTech.

The robots are being trained for tasks like picking and placing objects, inserting cables, and assembly work.

The Houston factory, set to begin production next year, is considered ideal due to its larger space.

Foxconn will showcase two robot versions at its tech event in November, one with legs and another with a wheeled base, which is expected to be cheaper.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Humanoid robotics marks a transformative evolution in manufacturing automation

The Nvidia-Foxconn partnership represents a significant milestone in a decades-long robotics evolution that began with simple industrial machines and is now advancing toward human-like capabilities.

The first industrial robot, Unimate, was deployed in 1961 to perform basic repetitive tasks in automotive manufacturing, marking the beginning of modern factory automation 1.

This progression continued through specialized robotic arms and autonomous vehicles, but humanoid robots represent a fundamentally different approach, designed to navigate environments built for humans rather than requiring custom-designed workspaces.

The anticipated 2026 deployment at the Houston facility continues this evolution, with robots trained specifically for complex tasks like object manipulation and cable insertion that previously required human dexterity 2.

This shift reflects a broader industry trend, with IDTechEx projecting approximately 1.6 million humanoid robots will be deployed in the automotive sector alone by 2035 3.

Unlike traditional industrial robots that perform single repetitive tasks behind safety barriers, these new systems are designed to work alongside humans and handle multiple functions, potentially reducing the need for specialized machinery.