US firm 1X Home Robots says its first “housekeeping robot” NEO can be ready to start working in homes next year. Meanwhile, China’s XPeng unveiled its latest IRON robot, which moved so smoothly it had to cut open one of its legs to prove there wasn’t a real human hiding inside. Humanoid robots have been around for decades, but with the advances of AI they have moved to a new level. Yuka Royer speaks with AI strategist Mark Minevich about just how far they have come, and how market competition is heating up.