Recent research by the IEEE’s, The Impact of Technology in 2026, establishes how UK CIOs, CTOs, IT directors and other technology leaders anticipate the evolution of robotics, extended reality (XR) and digital twins. It finds that 76% say humanoid robots may feel novel at first but will quickly become everyday colleagues, and some 66% believe robotics, autonomous vehicles (44%) and digital twins (20%) will see the biggest impact from AI in 2026. About 60% say XR and digital twins will be very important for designing, developing and testing prototypes and manufacturing processes.
Some 40% of UK organisations plan to deploy humanoid robots across parts of their workforce next year and 34% say robotics programming will be a top skill they look for when hiring for AI roles next year, with 38% saying the same for machine learning.
“The rise of digital twins, XR and robotics is quietly reshaping how work gets done. What once felt experimental is now part of the day-to-day, from simulating production lines to training new starters in realistic virtual environments. In manufacturing, that means moving from reacting to issues to staying one step ahead and using real-time data to make even smarter decisions. As these technologies mature, the skills landscape is changing fast. We’re seeing the rise of humanoid robots, not as novelties, as valuable co-workers handling repetitive or hazardous tasks and freeing up human teams to focus on decision-making, problem-solving and oversight. But for this to work, we need to rethink the way we hire,” said Ayesha Iqbal, IEEE Senior Member and Engineering Trainer at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre. “The ability to programme a robot or interpret live data from a digital twin is no longer niche – it has become vital. What’s more, the roles that typically relied on manual experience now involve fluency in systems, modelling and automation. This isn’t about replacing jobs, but about reframing them. As the tools scale and become smarter, the workforce must become more agile – and the industries that thrive will be those that invest not just in technology, but in the mindset and skills to harness it.”
The Royal Bank of Canada states that the market for humanoid robots could reach $9 trillion by 2050. Initially, this market will start with the household sector, expected to contribute some 33% of the total market. This trend has already been seen in the announcement of the Tesla Optimus, a humanoid robot that is designed for household chores.
