Pioneering roboticist Rodney Brooks says humanoid robots matching human skills is ‘pure fantasy’

Rodney Brooks, the renowned roboticist and co-founder of iRobot (maker of the Roomba), has published a lengthy critique of the current humanoid robotics wave, arguing that today’s approaches will not deliver human-level dexterity on useful timelines. The essay, titled “Why Today’s Humanoids Won’t Learn Dexterity” was posted on his personal blog on September 26, 2025. […]