Investors are betting on robots to replace blue collar workers
Monday, February 2, 2026
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AI startups like Waabi, Skild AI, and FieldAI have raised billions, including $1 billion and $1.4 billion, to develop "brains" for robots that can work in industries like construction, energy, and logistics.
These robots, powered by software "brains" that understand physics and real-world conditions, can adapt to changing environments and perform tasks like plumbing, electrical work, and welding, according to Yann LeCun, former chief AI scientist at Meta.
As AI expands into the physical world, critics warn of potential net job losses, despite optimists' claims that new technologies will create new labor needs, with the outcome uncertain and dependent on factors like hardware and switching costs.
