What is Physical AI, and how do service robots connect to it?

Physical AI refers to AI models that don't just generate text or images, but perceive the physical world and act in it. Robotics is the most visible application of this definition.

The big vision discussed across the industry is humanoid robots; the revenue-generating reality today is service robots. Reception, delivery, cleaning and logistics robots are the first commercially proven wave of physical AI.

The bridge between the two waves is the software layer: perception, task planning, fleet intelligence and enterprise integration. This layer is maturing on service robots today; tomorrow it will carry over to humanoid platforms.

The practical takeaway for organizations: the operational experience built with service robots today — process design, data infrastructure, staff adaptation — is the soundest investment made for the humanoid era.