As we enter 2025, the robotics landscape is evolving rapidly. Derik Pridmore, co-founder and CEO of OSARO, a leading provider of AI-powered robotics solutions for industrial automation, shares his expert predictions for the year ahead. Derik brings a unique perspective to the industry, combining his deep understanding of AI and robotics with over a decade of investment experience at firms like Founders Fund and Arda Capital Management, where he invested in pioneering companies like DeepMind and Clarifai.

OSARO, a global machine learning company with offices in San Francisco and Japan, specializes in AI software for industrial automation. Since 2015, OSARO has been developing hardware-agnostic AI software that enables robots to function in a variety of environments and perform diverse tasks, from ASRS systems and auto manufacturing to food prep and e-commerce. Its integrated perception and control software, coupled with a cloud-based data and GPU infrastructure, powers some of the most flexible and intelligent picking systems on the market.

Here are Derik's key predictions for the robotics industry in 2025:

1. The shift towards automation accelerates: With the changes in the US political landscape, warehouse operators, ecommerce platforms, and manufacturers are rushing to bolster their automation plans to prepare for continued shortages in labor hiring for warehouses.

2. AI-powered robots prove their worth: Production deployments of advanced AI-powered robots have demonstrated high ROI, production reliability, and modularity that integrates with existing automation (conveyors, ASRS, AMRs). Many customers are now moving into a multi-facility scale-up phase. Growth in robotic warehouse automation will continue, especially for mixed palletizing and depalletizing, and mixed-SKU piece picking and packing. Next up will be truck and van unloading.

3. The rise of adaptable AI models: The investor appetite for robotics continues alongside advances in hardware platforms like humanoids, as well as model innovations such as LLM/transformer augmented-perception models. Production systems will continue to require model and data platforms that can adapt a wide variety of model architectures to customer data and applications.

4. Humanoids face reality: Humanoid pilots will continue at a small scale, and the number of humanoid units produced by companies will likely remain at single-digit growth. Significant technical barriers persist, including battery life, heat dissipation, payload, sensing (including force sensing), safety, and a significant hardware/software learning loop. Cost optimization for mass manufacturing is still 5+ years away.

Derik believes that 2025 will be a pivotal year for the robotics industry, with a focus on practical, scalable solutions that deliver real-world value.