Impressive demos, but let’s not confuse shiny prototypes with a ready-made social solution. Yes, AI and humanoid robots can help with dangerous, repetitive or heavy tasks — and could be a useful tool as Europe’s population ages — but the technology is still experimental and far from a substitute for well‑resourced human care, decent wages, and public services. Progressive priorities should be clear: democratic oversight of how these systems are developed and deployed; strong worker protections and collective bargaining so automation doesn’t become an excuse for insecurity or layoffs; robust safety, privacy and liability rules; and major investment in retraining and public care infrastructure. We also need transparency about energy use, supply chains and data collection, and guarantees that companies creating this tech contribute to the common good rather than just skimming profits. If we steer this change with smart regulation, public investment and social dialogue, robotics can help reduce drudgery and improve safety. If we leave it to unregulated markets, it will deepen inequality and hollow out essential services. The EU should lead with rules that protect people first, not just applaud new toys in Brussels.