@Does a robot need to look human, or does it need to fit the job? Business Insider reported that some Silicon Valley investors are pushing back on the humanoid-first thesis, arguing that robot design should start with deployment scenarios — not the human body. The article points to several real-world use cases: warehouse and logistics work, factory tasks, retail shelf scanning, household chores such as clearing tables or loading dishwashers, and industrial robots designed around wheels or specialized bodies. Even @Apptronik offers a useful example. CEO Jeff Cardenas told BI that while he sees the biggest long-term potential in legged humanoids, the company’s wheeled version of Apollo could be deployed sooner because it poses fewer safety challenges. Humanoids may offer broader long-term flexibility, but task-first designs may reach commercial deployment faster. Source: Business Insider