Nvidia and Foxconn prepare to use 'humanoid robot workers' to produce graphics cards

Foxconn and Nvidia are in talks to deploy a large number of humanoid robots at Foxconn's new Houston, US, factory to take over physical tasks in the manufacturing process, according to an exclusive report from Reuters. The two companies want to have the robots operational by the first quarter of 2026. This is a major development for both companies: it marks the first time Nvidia products will be manufactured with the help of robots, and it is also the first time Foxconn will use robots in a factory producing AI server lines.

The development is notable and could be detrimental to the traditional workforce at both companies' factories overall. However, it's unclear what types of robots will be used, what they will look like, or how many they will be deployed. In fact, Foxconn has been testing humanoid robots from Chinese company UBTech on its production lines, with relatively positive results. But the new report claims that Foxconn is developing its own robots with Nvidia.

The robots will start working early next year and will be directly involved in the production of Nvidia's GB300 AI server, the sources said. Foxconn has trained the robots to perform object picking/placing, cabling, and assembly tasks, but their specific roles at the factory and whether jobs will be affected are unclear.

A source told Reuters that the Houston plant was the ideal testing site because of its large space, which allows the robots to move around more easily. Last month, a Foxconn subsidiary in charge of the AI ​​server business said it was developing two robots that it plans to launch in November.

One type of robot will have legs and move like a human, while the remaining robots will use self-propelled mobile platforms with wheels. It is easy to assume that the wheeled version will cost less than the legged version, but the specific cost has not been announced yet.

The use of humanoid robots in production lines is a global trend. Mercedes-Benz and BMW are testing robots on production lines, and Tesla is developing its own. China is also investing heavily in this field. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes that humanoid robots will be widely used in global manufacturing facilities within the next five years.

Lesley Montoya

Update 23 June 2025