In a radical transformation that transcends everything we know about technology, artificial intelligence no longer remains confined to screens and digital software; it has begun to don a "physical body" to invade our real world. This is what was revealed by an official press statement published recently through the "Financial Times" platform, based on the prestigious annual report (Equity Gilt Study) in its seventy-first edition, issued by the Research Department of "Barclays Bank" (Barclays Research).

The report, which reads the features of the future, confirms that we stand on the threshold of a new era led by "Humanoid Robots," which will not only change the shape of technology, but will re-engineer the global economy, labor markets, and geopolitics.

The Third Stage of Automation: From Isolated Tasks to Complete Functions

The "Barclays" report points to entering the "third stage" of automation. In the past, machines were designed to perform a single, specific, and isolated task within factories. Today, humanoid robots supported by massive advances in artificial intelligence, battery systems, and movement capabilities, make them capable of:

  • Working seamlessly within environments designed for humans.
  • Using traditional tools and equipment that we use.
  • Accomplishing "complete functions" from start to finish, not just partial steps.

Barclays experts predict that as the costs of producing these robots decrease and their deployment accelerates, their global market size will jump to $200 billion by 2035.

The Future of Human Resources: Restructuring or Replacement?

For those interested in human resources sciences and business management, this transformation raises legitimate questions about the fate of jobs. Historically, automation raised productivity in sectors like manufacturing, but sometimes led to a decline in those sectors' contribution to GDP in favor of other sectors requiring labor intensity (what is economically known as the Baumol effect).

The new robots will break this rule; because they can perform tasks previously thought impossible to automate. Nevertheless, the report reassures the concerned by citing an important historical fact: More than 60% of jobs that existed in 2018 did not exist in 1940. This means that humanoid robots will not eliminate job opportunities, but will restructure the job market to create new roles and functions suited to the future.

Geopolitics: China at the Center of Global Weight

This report cannot be read without stopping at the geopolitical dimension. Analysts confirm that China currently represents the true center of gravity of the global robotics economy, thanks to several factors that have given it a clear advantage that will be directly reflected in future features:

  • Government Support and Directed Policies: Thanks to unlimited government support for the technology sector, China has already seized 85% of total humanoid robot deployments throughout 2025.
  • Massive Manufacturing Capacity: China's possession of deep supply chains and extensive expertise in manufacturing has made it control many vital materials and inputs necessary for developing and scaling this technology globally.
  • Confronting the Demographic Crisis (Aging Population): Rather than being an obstacle, China has turned the aging of society into a driver to accelerate automation; where robots are expected to succeed in filling up to 60% of the expected shortage of Chinese labor by 2035.

This rapid and strategic adoption will help Beijing sustain its economic growth, and makes the robotics industry a cornerstone to strengthen its economic and geopolitical power in the decades to come.

Financial Market Impacts: Not a "Zero-Sum Game"

On the investment and global markets front, "Ajay Rajadhyaksha," Global Head of Research at Barclays, speaks clearly: "The impact of these robots will extend beyond technology, to reshape the structure of the global economy."

Some may fear that physical artificial intelligence will harm asset prices, but the report confirms the opposite; this transformation is not a "zero-sum game" (where one party wins what others lose). Robots will work to expand "production boundaries" instead of just redistributing income. And this will strengthen:

  • Global productivity rates.
  • Corporate profit growth more strongly.
  • Better returns on long-term investment assets.

We are not facing a mere "new technical tool," but rather a parallel workforce that will move the global economy from the stage of machines that help humans, to the stage of machines that share with humans their environment, tools, and complete functions. And while the map of winning and losing jobs will change, the overall impact on economic growth and innovative labor markets will be positive and profound.