12Industries
Where robots already work
Which industries use robots today, who uses which robot, and what official labor data shows. Deployments and data only, not predictions about jobs.
How AI software is changing work is covered by our sister site Intelligence Verdict .
01Industry
Warehouses and shipping
Mobile robots carry tubs of stock to workers at fixed stations, where people pick out the items customers ordered. Amazon, 18 Oct 2023
- Hand laborers and material movers in the US (2025)
- about 6.9 million jobs
- Material moving machine operators in the US (2025)
- about 841,500 jobs
- Transport and logistics robots sold worldwide (2025)
- 117,500
The US had about 6.9 million jobs for people who move freight, stock and materials by hand, about 2.8 million of them stockers and order fillers. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
People who drive forklifts, cranes and other machines that move goods held about 841,500 jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Transport and logistics robots, which move goods around workplaces, were the biggest group of business service robots sold worldwide in 2025: 117,500 units. International Federation of Robotics, 30 Sept 2026
AmazonIts own warehouse robots (Proteus, Sequoia, Vulcan and others)
Amazon says it has put its one millionth robot to work. Amazon began building its robot fleet in 2012, when it bought the robot maker Kiva Systems.
Amazon, 1 July 2025Company-reported
AmazonWarehouse robots
The Wall Street Journal reported that about three in four Amazon deliveries worldwide get some help from a robot along the way.
WalmartSymbotic storage and retrieval system
Symbotic has worked with Walmart since 2017 and is putting its robot system into all 42 of Walmart's regional distribution centers.
Supply Chain Dive, 21 Jan 2025Company-reported
DHL Supply ChainLocus Robotics mobile picking robots
DHL Supply Chain has used Locus mobile robots since 2017 and now has thousands of them at more than 40 sites, where they help workers pick orders.
Automated Warehouse, 23 Feb 2026Company-reported
GXO Logistics (for Spanx)Agility Robotics Digit humanoid
GXO signed a multi-year deal to use Agility's Digit humanoid robots. At a Spanx warehouse, Digit moves plastic tubs from other robots onto conveyor belts.
Agility Robotics, 27 June 2024Company-reported
Catalyst Brands (owner of JCPenney)Figure humanoid robots
Figure signed a commercial agreement with Catalyst Brands, starting at its Reno, Nevada distribution center. Figure did not say how many robots.
Figure, 26 May 2026Company-reported
02Industry
Car factories
In the US, car makers are the biggest buyers of factory robots. Humanoid robots are only in early trials: at BMW, one placed sheet-metal parts ready for welding. Repairer Driven News, 13 July 2026
- New industrial robots installed in US car and car-parts factories (2025)
- 13,500
The car industry is still the biggest buyer of factory robots in the US. It installed about 13,500 new robots in 2025, about the same as the year before. International Federation of Robotics, 18 June 2026
BMW, Spartanburg, South CarolinaFigure 02 humanoid
BMW says a Figure 02 humanoid robot helped build more than 30,000 BMW X3 cars over 10 months, placing sheet-metal parts ready for welding. BMW calls this a completed pilot.
Repairer Driven News, 13 July 2026Company-reported
BMW, Spartanburg, South CarolinaFigure 03 humanoid
BMW is starting a project with the newer Figure 03, which picks loose parts out of large bins and sorts them onto trolleys for the assembly line. No robot count was given.
Repairer Driven News, 13 July 2026Company-reported
Tesla, Fremont, CaliforniaOptimus humanoid
Electrek, citing The Information, reported that most Optimus robots are used inside Tesla for testing, training and data collection. Elon Musk said in January 2026 that none were yet doing useful work.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing CanadaAgility Robotics Digit humanoid
After a pilot with three robots, Toyota's Canadian car plant signed an agreement to use seven more Digit robots to load and unload plastic tubs (totes).
The Robot Report, 19 Feb 2026Company-reported
HyundaiBoston Dynamics Atlas humanoid
Boston Dynamics says Atlas is starting field tests at a Hyundai facility. It names tasks such as sorting parts into order for the line (part sequencing) and tending machines.
Boston Dynamics, Atlas page, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
03Industry
Other manufacturing
Factories use robots alongside computers and other machines. Some assembly workers now work side by side with robots built to share their space (collaborative robots, or cobots). US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Assemblers and fabricators
- Industrial robots at work worldwide (2025)
- about 5 million
- New industrial robots installed in the US (2025)
- 38,000
- Robot density in US manufacturing (stated June 2026 (year of data not given))
- 307 robots per 10,000 factory workers
- Assemblers and fabricators in the US (2025)
- about 1.8 million jobs
About 5 million industrial robots were working in factories around the world in 2025, 9% more than a year earlier. Factories installed more than 600,000 new ones that year. International Federation of Robotics, World Robotics 2026, 24 Sept 2026
US factories installed 38,000 new industrial robots in 2025, 11% more than in 2024. Car makers bought the most; metal and machinery, and electronics, each bought about 3,000. International Federation of Robotics, 18 June 2026
US factories have 307 industrial robots for every 10,000 manufacturing workers, eighth in the world. South Korea has 1,220. International Federation of Robotics, 18 June 2026
Factory workers who put together products and parts held about 1.8 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Longcheer Technology, ChinaAgiBot G2 (wheeled robot with a humanoid upper body)
In a six-day livestreamed test, AgiBot G2 robots checked more than 17,000 tablets on a working Longcheer factory line. AgiBot reported a 99.99% success rate.
Yicai Global, 29 June 2026Company-reported
Schaeffler and other Agility customersAgility Robotics Digit humanoid
Agility says Digit is working at companies including car-parts maker Schaeffler, Toyota's Canadian plant and online retailer Mercado Libre. It says Digit has logged more than 65,000 hours across nine customer sites.
The Robot Report, 24 June 2026Company-reported
CATL, Bosch, Toyota and Hyundai (trials)Galbot G1 (wheeled robot with arms)
Galbot says it has tried out its G1 robot with battery maker CATL, engineering firm Bosch and carmakers Toyota and Hyundai. These are trials, not full rollouts.
The Robot Report, 23 Dec 2025Company-reported
04Industry
Hospitals and surgery
In operating rooms, robot arms hold and position the camera and tools during keyhole surgery. FDA 510(k) K242323, Moon Surgical Maestro
- Surgical robots sold worldwide (2025)
- 8,400 units, up 57%
About 8,400 surgical robots were sold worldwide in 2025, 57% more than the year before, the International Federation of Robotics says. International Federation of Robotics, 30 Sept 2026
Hospitals worldwide (Intuitive)da Vinci surgical robots
Intuitive placed more than 1,790 da Vinci surgical robots with hospitals in 2024. About 95 of them were the single-port model.
MedTech Dive, 11 Dec 2025Company-reported
Hospitals in the US and Europe (Intuitive)da Vinci 5
Intuitive placed 246 of its newest da Vinci 5 robots with hospitals in the second quarter of 2026, up from 180 a year earlier.
Intuitive Q2 2026 results, 16 July 2026Company-reported
Hospitals in 10 countries (Intuitive)Ion lung biopsy robot
Intuitive had 1,096 Ion robots installed in hospitals by 30 June 2026. Doctors use Ion to steer a thin tube into the lungs to take tissue samples.
Intuitive Q2 2026 results, 16 July 2026Company-reported
Hospitals in 47 countries (Stryker)Mako robotic arm for joint replacement
Stryker says surgeons have done more than 2.5 million operations, such as knee replacements, with its Mako robotic arm in 47 countries.
Stryker news release, 16 July 2026Company-reported
Lee Health, FloridaMoon Surgical Maestro
Lee Health in Florida had done more than 100 operations, including weight-loss and general surgery, with Moon Surgical's Maestro arms holding the camera and tools.
Moon Surgical press release via Sofinnova, July 2025Company-reported
05Industry
Nursing and elder care
Robots here mostly keep people company. A talking tabletop robot starts conversations and suggests activities, and robot pets comfort lonely older people. NY State Office for the Aging, ElliQ initiative page
- Home health and personal care aides in the US (2025)
- about 4.7 million jobs
- Nursing assistants in the US (2025)
- about 1.5 million jobs
Home health and personal care aides held about 4.7 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Nursing assistants held about 1.5 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
New York State Office for the AgingElliQ companion robot
New York's state aging office gives ElliQ talking companion robots to older adults living at home. Its program includes about 900 units.
New York State Office for the AgingRobotic companion cats and dogs (Ageless Innovation's Joy for All)
Since 2018, New York's state aging office has given more than 35,000 robotic pets to older adults judged to be socially isolated.
NY State Office for the Aging, Animatronic Pet Initiative page
Care facilitiesPARO robotic seal
Some care facilities have used the PARO robot seal to calm residents with dementia.
US veterans (federal supply list)Obi robotic feeding aid
Obi is a robot arm that helps people who cannot use their arms feed themselves. The maker says it is on the federal supply list, so qualifying veterans can get one at no cost.
Obi website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
06Industry
Taxi and ride-hail driving
In set areas of some cities, cars with no one at the wheel carry paying passengers. Remote staff give the cars advice when they are unsure. Reuters via Business Day, 18 Feb 2026
- Taxi drivers in the US (2025)
- about 204,200 jobs
- Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs in the US (2025)
- about 251,500 jobs
Taxi drivers held about 204,200 jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs held about 251,500 jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Waymo said it was giving 500,000 paid driverless rides a week across 10 US cities.
TechCrunch, 27 Mar 2026Company-reported
Waymo opened its service to the public in Las Vegas, its 15th market. Nevada's regulator allowed up to 1,000 of its robotaxis over the next year.
Tesla began paid Robotaxi rides in Austin in June 2025 with a safety monitor aboard. In July 2026 it began rides with no monitor in three Florida cities. Electrek counted about 17 active unsupervised cars in Austin.
Baidu Apollo GoApollo Go robotaxis
Baidu says its Apollo Go service has given more than 20 million rides worldwide. It runs paid rides with no driver aboard in Wuhan and Chongqing and has added Dubai.
Baidu press release, 1 Apr 2026Company-reported
Pony.aiPony.ai robotaxis
Pony.ai began paid rides with no one aboard in its seventh-generation cars in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing.
Pony.ai press release, 6 Nov 2025Company-reported
WeRide with UberWeRide robotaxis
WeRide and Uber began driverless rides for the public on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, with no safety driver aboard.
07Industry
Truck driving
Self-driving big rigs haul customers' freight on set highway routes in Texas and the US Southwest, some with no one at the wheel. Aurora press release, 1 May 2025
- Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the US (2025)
- about 2.2 million jobs
Drivers of big rigs and other heavy trucks held about 2.2 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Aurora (customers include Uber Freight and Hirschbach)Aurora Driver trucks
Aurora began regular driverless deliveries for customers between Dallas and Houston in May 2025.
Aurora press release, 1 May 2025Company-reported
AuroraAurora Driver trucks
Aurora says its trucks have driven more than 500,000 miles with no one at the wheel since the 2025 launch.
Aurora press release, 23 Sept 2026Company-reported
Kodiak AIKodiak Driver trucks
Kodiak says that by the end of June 2026, 35 trucks using its technology were working with no one in the cab.
Kodiak AICompany-reported
Kodiak AI with DTL TransportKodiak Driver trucks
Kodiak and carrier DTL Transport made their first self-driving truck deliveries in California under a new permit from the state DMV.
Kodiak AI, 24 Sept 2026Company-reported
08Industry
Delivery and couriers
Small robots drive along pavements carrying hot food, groceries and supplies to people nearby. Starship Technologies
- Light truck (delivery van) drivers in the US (2025)
- about 1.1 million jobs
Light truck drivers, who drive smaller trucks and vans, held about 1.1 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Walmart, with Wing and ZiplineDelivery drones
Walmart passed 1 million drone deliveries in May 2026. DroneXL counts drone delivery from 66 Walmart stores in four states.
Zipline (for Walmart, Cleveland Clinic and others)Zipline delivery drones
Zipline says it has made more than 2 million paid deliveries. DroneXL counts more than 30 Zipline sites in the US.
The Robot Report, Jan 2026Company-reported
Wing (Alphabet), for WalmartWing delivery drones
Wing says it has made more than one million paid deliveries worldwide. It flies Walmart orders in five US metro areas.
DroneXL Wing tracker, updated 12 Oct 2026Company-reported
Starship TechnologiesStarship sidewalk delivery robots
Starship says its robots have made more than 10 million deliveries, carrying food, groceries and supplies.
Starship TechnologiesCompany-reported
Amazon Prime AirMK30 delivery drone
Amazon says Prime Air delivers by drone from 11 US locations. Amazon paused US drone deliveries in January 2025 after crashes, then restarted.
Amazon, 19 Aug 2026Company-reported
09Industry
Restaurants and fast food
In some restaurants, robots fry food, or carry plates to tables and take dirty dishes away. Bear Robotics
- Food and beverage serving workers in the US (2025)
- about 5.1 million jobs
Waiters, fast-food counter staff and other food and drink serving workers held about 5.1 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
White CastleMiso Robotics Flippy fry robot
A White Castle manager, quoted by Miso Robotics, said the Shiloh, Illinois restaurant got the third Flippy fry robot in the St. Louis area. Flippy works the fryer so staff can step away from it.
Miso Robotics website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
Bangujeong restaurant, South KoreaBear Robotics Servi serving robots
Bear Robotics says the Bangujeong restaurant runs more than 30 of its robots, which carry food to tables and take dirty dishes away.
Bear Robotics website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
10Industry
Cleaning
Most cleaning robots clean floors: robot vacuums in homes, and larger floor-cleaning robots in businesses. International Federation of Robotics, 30 Sept 2026
- Professional service robots sold worldwide (2025)
- almost 250,000
- Home cleaning robots shipped worldwide (2025)
- 32.72 million
- Janitors and building cleaners in the US (2025)
- about 2.4 million jobs
Almost 250,000 service robots for businesses were sold in 2025, 24% more than in 2024. Cleaning robots, mostly for floors, were the third-biggest group, after transport and hospitality robots. International Federation of Robotics, 30 Sept 2026
About 32.7 million home cleaning robots, mostly robot vacuums, were shipped worldwide in 2025, 20% more than in 2024, research firm IDC says. IDC
Janitors and building cleaners held about 2.4 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Brain Corp customersSelf-driving floor scrubbers and vacuums running BrainOS
Brain Corp says its software runs self-driving floor scrubbers and vacuums, and that more than 50,000 robots now use it, on six continents.
Brain Corp website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
DHLAvidbots Neo floor-scrubbing robots
A DHL executive, quoted by Avidbots, said DHL planned to put more Neo floor-scrubbing robots in its warehouses around the world.
Avidbots website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
11Industry
Retail stores
In some shops, robots roll along the aisles several times a day, using cameras to check the shelves, so staff know what to restock or fix. Simbe Robotics website, viewed Oct 2026
- Retail salespersons in the US (2025)
- about 4.0 million jobs
- Cashiers in the US (2025)
- about 3.1 million jobs
Retail salespersons held about 4.0 million jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Cashiers held about 3.1 million jobs in the US. Some cashiers now also watch over self-checkout machines. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
WalmartSymbotic automated pickup systems (APDs) for store back rooms
Walmart agreed to pay $520 million to fund the development of Symbotic's automated pickup systems and to buy and install 400 of them in the back rooms of its stores.
Supply Chain Dive, 21 Jan 2025Company-reported
GalbotGalbot G1 (wheeled robot with arms)
Galbot says its robot-run shops are open in more than 30 cities in China.
The Robot Report, 23 Dec 2025Company-reported
Sam's ClubBrain Corp Inventory Scan robots
Sam's Club, quoted by Brain Corp, uses its Inventory Scan robots, which collect data on shelves to check that items are in stock and easy to find.
Brain Corp website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
BJ's Wholesale ClubSimbe Tally shelf-scanning robot
A former BJ's Wholesale Club executive, quoted by Simbe, said its Tally robots give the company insights from real-time shelf data.
Simbe Robotics website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
Wakefern Food Corp.Simbe Store Intelligence (Tally robots and fixed shelf sensors)
Simbe says Wakefern Food Corp. improved how often items were on the shelf by 50% across more than 90 stores using its system, which includes Tally robots and fixed shelf sensors.
Simbe Robotics website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
12Industry
Farming
On dairy farms, milking robots milk cows when the cows choose to come in, rather than at set times. Lely, Astronaut A5 page, viewed Oct 2026
- Agricultural workers in the US (2025)
- about 831,900 jobs
- Wage and salary jobs in US agriculture (2024)
- 1.18 million
- Use of milking and other precision dairy technology on US farms (2026 (report))
- rising steadily since 2000
Farmworkers and other agricultural workers held about 831,900 jobs in the US. US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Paid jobs in US agriculture, including farm labor contractors, rose from 1.07 million in 2010 to 1.18 million in 2024, the US Department of Agriculture says. USDA Economic Research Service, Farm Labor
USDA economists say US dairy farms' use of precision technology for milking, breeding and farm data has risen steadily since 2000. They found that robotic milking, or using two or more such technologies, raised dairy net returns by 13% on average. USDA Economic Research Service, 22 Jan 2026
Dairy farms (Lely)Lely Astronaut milking robots and other dairy robots
Lely, a maker of milking robots and other dairy farm robots, says it has installed more than 50,000 robots and draws on dairy farmers in more than 40 countries.
Lely, Astronaut A5 page, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported
Vegetable growers including Grimmway Farms and Duncan Family FarmsCarbon Robotics LaserWeeder
Carbon Robotics' LaserWeeder kills weeds in crop fields. The company says more than 200 growers in 15 countries use it, and names farms such as Grimmway Farms and Duncan Family Farms.
Carbon Robotics website, viewed Oct 2026Company-reported