Picture a robot. What comes to mind? Perhaps a droid from Star Wars or The Jetsons: a machine that can move, speak and perform tasks all by itself. Or maybe your imagination jumps to humanoid robots à ...

Most robot headlines follow a familiar script: a machine masters one narrow trick in a controlled lab, then comes the bold promise that everything is about to change. I usually tune those stories out.

Imagine walking into a bustling café where a humanoid robot greets you, takes your order, and expertly prepares your coffee, all while engaging in casual conversation. This scenario, once the stuff of ...