Experts say that by 2025, robots will be able to adapt to their workplace environments by learning about their surroundings, improving their ability to navigate them, and working more seamlessly alongside human colleagues.
AI-driven robotics will be able to learn on the job
Pascal Brier, chief innovation officer at Capgemini
“Advancements in AI technology have accelerated the development of next-generation robots, building upon innovations in mechatronics and expanding beyond traditional industrial uses. While robotics used to be dominated by hard-coded, task-specific machines, the development of Gen AI is spurring the development of new products (including humanoid robots and collaborative robots – or cobots) that can adapt to diverse scenarios and learn continuously from their environment. According to the Capgemini Research Institute’s upcoming report, 24% of top executives and 43% of Venture Capitalists see AI-driven automation and robotics as one of the top 3 tech trends in data and AI in 2025. With robots becoming more autonomous and AI taking on complex decision-making roles, the future of work may see a shift in the traditional structure of authority. The rise of AI-powered machines that mimic human behaviours challenges our understanding of leadership, responsibility, and collaboration, ultimately pushing us to reconsider the role of humans.
Why it matters: As Industry 4.0 progresses, AI-powered robots will drive efficiency, flexibility, and innovation, becoming key components of intelligent, connected systems that redefine industrial processes. By 2025, advances in natural language processing and machine vision will further enhance their capabilities, allowing robots in manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture to take on more complex roles within the modern workforce.”
Michel Spruijt, president, Brain Corp International
“Polyfunctional robots – those capable of performing multiple tasks and seamlessly switching between them as required – are set to have a growing impact across many industries in 2025. We’ve already seen significant impact in retail where robots seamlessly transition between tasks such as floor care and inventory management.
Looking ahead, we anticipate polyfunctional robots will become increasingly prevalent in manufacturing, logistics, and retail. These robots will be able to adapt to changing production needs, provide value in increasingly complex warehouse environments, and enhance customer experience in a variety of contexts.
One of the most promising aspects of polyfunctional robots is their ability to learn and improve over time. As they encounter new situations and tasks, they are able to adapt to increase efficiency and overall productivity.
In 2025, we expect polyfunctional robots to play an increasingly important role across many sectors, driving innovation, increasing productivity, and creating new opportunities to future-proof industries.”
Robots will be able to adapt to their human colleagues
Volker Spanier, head of manufacturing solutions, EMEA, Epson
“In 2025, we will see a wider adoption of smart manufacturing, which in the UK will be underscored and stimulated by the Government’s new £16 million investment aimed at accelerating digital transformation among SME manufacturers. Alongside this, the expansion of the UK Government’s Made Smarter Innovation programme in 2024, with an additional £37 million in funding for 2025-2026, aims to promote innovation and digitalisation across the manufacturing sector. This programme includes grants for research and development in automation and robotics, as well as tax incentives for manufacturers investing in AI-driven technologies, further catalysing the shift towards smarter, more efficient manufacturing processes.
The increasing productivity and safety of robotics, alongside easier software, will reduce the need for expensive peripheral equipment or complicated programmes for automating operations. Instead, these robots can be quickly and easily repurposed for various products and processes. This year marks a turning point where robotics, with its precision and speed, becomes a partner to humans, enhancing productivity and strengthening the UK’s manufacturing excellence and superiority.”
Adrian Negoita, CTO, Dexory
“Over the past year, the robotics industry has seen impressive progress, both in terms of technological evolution and increased adoption across other industries. It is now firmly an industry for the future that will drive significant change across multiple industries.
As we look ahead to 2025, we can expect to see further improvements in the autonomy and sensor technology integrated into robotic systems. This will allow robots to better navigate their surroundings and handle more complex, unstructured environments. I foresee a world of increased collaboration between humans and robots – this improved autonomy will be essential to that, as it means robots can smoothly operate in the same spaces as humans without safety concerns. This will be key for industries such as logistics, where companies are looking at deploying robots alongside humans to improve efficiency, freeing employees time to focus on strategic planning and driving growth within these industries.
With the continued development and growth of the robotics industry, it is an opportunity for people to upskill themselves for a field that will provide opportunities for growth and allow them to define and shape the future of robotics.”
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