"Will Parcel Sorting Part-Time Jobs Disappear?" Stir Over Humanoid Robots Handling Delivery Boxes

Mixed Reactions to Livestream of Parcel-Sorting Robots
Robots Repeatedly Handle Parcel Boxes in Logistics Centers
Commercialization Timeline Still Undecided

As Figure AI, a U.S. robotics startup, livestreamed humanoid robots sorting delivery boxes in a logistics warehouse, reactions online have been mixed, with both anticipation and concern.

On May 14 (local time), Figure AI shared a YouTube livestream link through social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), inviting viewers to "watch humanoid robots perform 8-hour shift work at a human-equivalent level." The video showed humanoid robots labeled with names such as Gary, Frank, BOB, and ROSE repeatedly handling delivery boxes at a logistics site.

The video showed humanoid robots named Gary, Frank, and BOB repeatedly handling delivery boxes in a logistics site. YouTube channel "figure"

In the video, the robots picked up delivery boxes with both hands, rotated them so the barcode faced down, and placed them onto a conveyor belt. The method involved turning the box upside down so that the barcode reader installed on the floor could recognize the invoice. The robots were also seen pressing down on boxes wrapped in plastic to ensure the barcode could be scanned properly. They performed additional actions such as picking up boxes placed at a distance or adjusting the orientation of the boxes as needed.

After working for approximately 7 hours and 44 minutes, Gary stopped after placing about 10,000 packages onto the conveyor belt. Once Gary slowly stepped away from the work position, Frank moved in to continue the same task. The departing Gary walked on its own to the charging station and began recharging. However, not all operations proceeded perfectly; there were moments when the robot paused if boxes were stacked or misaligned. In some situations, the robot appeared to freeze, entered a so-called 'mental breakdown' state, and had to go through a reset process before resuming work.

The audience watching the livestream had divided reactions. Some viewers commented on the scenes where the robot flipped boxes or paused and then resumed work, saying, "For now, human hands are still better," or "It looks like the robot had a meltdown." On the other hand, some expressed concerns, saying, "It feels like we're witnessing the disappearance of warehouse part-time jobs," "At this rate, only one person would be needed at the logistics center," and "My job could disappear in a few years."

According to Figure AI, the robot operates autonomously based on the artificial intelligence system "Helix-02." Figure AI initially aimed for an 8-hour demonstration but later extended the live broadcast, with the robots continuing their work even after 35 hours had passed. YouTube channel "figure"

According to Figure AI, the robots operate autonomously based on the artificial intelligence system 'Helix-02.' Figure AI initially aimed for an 8-hour demonstration but later extended the livestream, with the robots continuing their operations even after more than 35 hours had passed. The robots are designed to recognize the barcode on top of the box, determine its orientation, and place it onto the conveyor belt in the appropriate position. The company explained that it typically takes a human about three seconds to perform the same task, claiming that the robots are approaching a work speed comparable to that of humans.

This livestream served largely as a demonstration to show whether humanoid robots can endure long hours of work in an actual industrial environment. After robotics expert Scott Walter remarked that "humanoid robots are only truly useful if they can withstand long work hours like humans," Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock reportedly decided to launch the live broadcast in a real-world setting. The specific timeline for commercialization of Helix-02 has not yet been released. Figure AI has reportedly raised over 1 billion dollars in investment to date, with its corporate value estimated at approximately 39 billion dollars.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.