12/19/2025
A San Francisco based startup called Foundation has announced ambitious plans to deploy tens of thousands of humanoid robots within the next few years. The company says it aims to produce up to 50,000 units by 2027, designed for use in factories, warehouses, and other high risk environments where human safety is a concern. Its Phantom MK-1 robot is roughly human-sized and built to handle physically demanding tasks, including roles described as “first entry” situations, such as inspection, recovery, or hazardous material handling. Foundation plans to lease the robots at an annual rate, positioning them as capable of covering multiple human work shifts.
Foundation’s leadership says these systems will operate with humans remaining in control of critical decisions, using a supervised or human guided model rather than full independence. Supporters argue this approach could reduce risk for workers and improve precision in dangerous settings, while critics question how quickly such technology should be introduced and what broader impacts it may have. With production targets accelerating rapidly, the announcement has sparked wide discussion about how humanoid robots could reshape labor, safety, and decision making sooner than many expected.