10Claims checked
Heard it said. Checked it.
Popular claims about robots, set against dated evidence. The verdict is one of four fixed wordings, picked by the kind of evidence there is, never by our opinion.
- Supported by current evidenceIndependent evidence shows the claim is true as stated.
- Partly supportedEvidence backs part of the claim, or only under conditions it leaves out.
- Not yet shownNothing on record shows it yet: the support is company statements, forecasts, or studies that didn't find the claimed effect.
- Not supported by current evidenceIndependent evidence shows it is not true as stated.
Humanoid robots will be in homes next year
Not yet shownMakers promise home humanoids soon, but the sources show only pre-orders, company home tests and factory work, not robots delivered to buyers' homes.Robotaxis are safer than human drivers
Partly supportedPeer-reviewed and insurer studies find Waymo crashes far less than human drivers where it runs; that does not cover every robotaxi company.Optimus robots are already working in Tesla's factories
Partly supportedSome Optimus robots work in Tesla factories, but only in tightly controlled, supervised areas; most are used for testing, training and data collection.You can buy a home humanoid today
Partly supportedYou can pre-order 1X's NEO home humanoid with a deposit, but the sources do not confirm any deliveries to buyers' homes yet.That robot demo was fully autonomous
Not yet shownAutonomy in robot demos is usually stated only by the maker; in documented cases, such as Tesla's 2024 event, people controlled the robots remotely.Robot surgery gives better results than regular surgery
Not yet shownBetter results are not shown in general: a large hernia trial found no recovery benefit at higher cost, and FDA says cancer outcomes are unproven.Robots are taking millions of jobs
Partly supportedPeer-reviewed research finds factory robots did replace US workers, but the 'millions of jobs' figures come from forecasts, not measured job losses.Drone delivery is coming to every town
Not yet shownUS drone delivery runs in a handful of metro areas; bigger rollouts are company plans, and the FAA's routine-flight rule is not yet final.Robot companions ease loneliness in older adults
Partly supportedOlder users in New York's ElliQ program say they feel less lonely, but no controlled study we found confirms that robot companions reduce loneliness.China is ahead in humanoid robots
Partly supportedResearch firms say Chinese makers ship most of the world's humanoids, and China installs most factory robots; no independent test compares their abilities.