Meet “Digit”: The Humanoid Robot Redefining the Future of Work with AI Power

Agility Robotics has unveiled its humanoid robot “Digit”, a bipedal machine designed to revolutionize how humans and robots work together. The company, based in Silicon Valley, says the world is nearing an “inflection point” where human-like robots will become as common as cars or smartphones.

Co-founder Jonathan Hurst described Digit as an early step toward that vision, emphasizing its ability to interact naturally with people through AI. The robot uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 to understand voice commands and perform tasks autonomously, such as loading, unloading, and stacking items.

However, the recent demonstration revealed both progress and challenges. When prompted with voice instructions, Digit sometimes executed commands out of order — and one even fell during a bin-moving task. Hurst said this was part of ongoing testing and that safety measures currently require humans to stay six feet away. He estimates it may take several years before humanoid robots can operate safely alongside people.

Digit’s potential, though, is already being tested in the real world. Amazon, one of Agility Robotics’ investors, has begun piloting Digit in a Seattle warehouse, where it helps recycle storage totes — a repetitive job typically handled by employees. Amazon already uses over 750,000 robots, and Digit could become its first fully humanoid addition.

While concerns over AI and automation persist — echoing debates in industries like Hollywood — Hurst insists Digit is designed to assist, not replace workers. He expects Agility’s new Oregon facility to produce 10,000 units per year by 2027. CTO Melonee Wise added that Digit represents more than hardware: “We’re building the platform for an app store for labor.”