In focus: AI Robotics – Two megatrends merge dynamically to form “physical AI”

Robots have been shaping modern industrial manufacturing for many years. But now, the integration of AI and robotics is giving rise to a completely new trend—also known as “physical AI.” 

What makes this development so special is that physical AI is based on the fusion of state-of-the-art sensor technology with the agility of highly developed robots and the enormous learning and adaptation capabilities of revolutionary AI systems. 

The result: complex “humanoid” robots with a performance profile that is unmatched to date. 

The market for AI-driven robotics is growing rapidly: between 2025 and 2030, sales in the industrial and service robotics sectors are expected to rise from EUR 24.2 billion to EUR 145.5 billion – a sixfold increase in just five years! 

The main driver is China: the People's Republic is investing heavily, scaling up faster and already using AI robotics in many areas. China is thus deliberately positioning itself as the engine of development – a structural influence that will have a massive impact on and accelerate the global market for years to come.

High relevance for entrepreneurs and investors: Not least, Tesla CEO Elon Musk's decision to focus more on manufacturing humanoid robots and “robotaxis” instead of electric cars sends an important signal: The rise of “intelligent” robots is fundamentally changing the rules of the game in the market – and rapidly creating new winners and losers in many areas.

2026 marks the transition to a new and disruptive era of robotics: AI-supported autonomy and humanoid systems with enormous learning and adaptability capabilities will shape the future.

Due to its outstanding importance, the FERI Cognitive Finance Institute will closely monitor this disruptive trend, including through special analyses and studies.