Do robots really need legs?

Are humanoid robots the future… or a $100B mistake? Over 100 companies—from Meta to Amazon—are betting big on humanoids. But are we chasing a sci-fi dream that’s not practical or profitable? In this TechFirst episode, I chat with Bren Pierce, robotics OG and CEO of Kinisi Robots. We cover: - Why legs might be overhyped - How LLMs are transforming robots into agents - The real cost (and complexity) of robotic hands - Why warehouse robots work best with wheels - The geopolitical robot arms race between China, the US, and Europe - Hot takes, historical context, and a glimpse into the next 10 years of AI + robotics. Timestamps: 0:00 – Are humanoids a dumb idea? 1:30 – Why legs might not matter (yet) 5:00 – LLMs as the real unlock 12:00 – The hand is 50% of the challenge 17:00 – Speed limits = compute limits 23:00 – Robot geopolitics & supply chains 30:00 – What the next 5 years looks like Subscribe for more on AI, robotics, and tech megatrends.