Meet the AI-powered robots Big Tech is betting can solve the global labor crisis

Robotics is where AI meets reality. We are really at the cusp of solving one of the grand challenges of humanity that'll change labour forever.

Some argue robots like Digit can solve the world's labor crisis, filling jobs that are too dangerous or that people simply don't want. They may even replace an aging workforce.

Investors are pouring millions into start-ups, with the market expected to grow to $38 billion by 2035 .

Some companies are already deploying them in factories and warehouses.

Tesla claims it has two Optimist robots in its factory.

The next big market we see is automotive, retail, and then eventually into markets like healthcare.

There's already too few workers to fill all of the world's manufacturing jobs.

Goldman Sachs thinks that will grow to a shortage of 2 million workers by 20-30 .

The biggest obstacle is the cost of building and maintaining 10 million of the robots that we're talking about touching a single job.

Agility says its robots can be purchased up front with an additional software as a service fee or a bundled monthly fee for robots as service.