Robots Expand Beyond Hospitals, Ready to Assist in Other Industries

Experts predict rapid growth of humanoid robots in healthcare, manufacturing, and more

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Robots like Moxi are already helping hospital staff at Cedars-Sinai and other medical centers, and experts say humanoid robots will soon become more common in a variety of industries to help offset worker shortages. Companies like Tesla are developing advanced humanoid robots that could take on complex tasks and even be sold to the public within the next couple years.

Why it matters

The rise of robots, especially more advanced humanoid models, could have a significant impact on the workforce and how many industries operate. While robots can help fill labor gaps, there are concerns about how this technological shift will affect human workers and the need to manage the transition carefully.

The details

Moxi, a robot assistant developed by Diligent Robotics, is already helping hospital staff at Cedars-Sinai and around 25 other U.S. hospitals by handling tasks like moving supplies and retrieving items. Cedars-Sinai and other early adopters like Rochester Regional Health have seen benefits in terms of time savings and allowing staff to focus more on patient care. However, experts note robots have limitations and can't replace the human touch. Looking ahead, companies are developing more sophisticated humanoid robots that could take on a wider range of tasks in healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries.

  • Cedars-Sinai started using Moxi robots two years ago.
  • Rochester Regional Health began using Moxi robots in 2023.

The players

Moxi

A robot assistant developed by Diligent Robotics that is helping hospital staff at Cedars-Sinai and around 25 other U.S. hospitals.

Melanie Barone

An associate director at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

David Marshall

The chief nursing executive at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Casey Wilbert

The vice president of Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, New York.

Jeff Cardenas

The CEO of humanoid robot developer Apptroknik.

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What they’re saying

“I don't have to go take my 10,000 steps down into the belly of the hospital to go find things and get it for my patient.”

— Melanie Barone, Associate Director, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CBS News)

“We've seen positive, emotional responses that we see from patients, staff, visitors and children. … We had one patient that asked if Moxi could come back and tell her hello after her surgery.”

— David Marshall, Chief Nursing Executive, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CBS News)

“One of the great things about the robots is you're not paying overtime, …they don't take sick days.”

— Casey Wilbert, Vice President, Rochester Regional Health (CBS News)

“Robots touch things and people touch people. They could never hold a patient's hand or wipe their brow or help them brush their teeth.”

— David Marshall, Chief Nursing Executive, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CBS News)

“By the end of this year, I think they will be doing more complex tasks, and probably by the end of next year, I think we'd be selling humanoid robots to the public.”

— Elon Musk (CBS News)

What’s next

Experts predict that humanoid robots will continue to advance and become more common in a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and even homes, as companies like Tesla work to make them more capable and reliable.

The takeaway

The rise of robots, especially more advanced humanoid models, could have a significant impact on the workforce and how many industries operate. While robots can help fill labor gaps, there are concerns about how this technological shift will affect human workers and the need to manage the transition carefully to ensure people are not left behind.