Humanoid robots are moving closer to everyday use, but the UK lacks the laws and safeguards needed to protect the public, a Scottish AI researcher has warned.
Dr Carl Strathearn, a lecturer in computer science and autonomous social robotics at Edinburgh Napier University, said the rapid growth of humanoid robots is outpacing both regulation and public understanding. He will set out his concerns at DataFest 2026, Scotland’s national data and AI conference, which is hosted by The Data Lab and takes place this week at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.
Dr Strathearn argues that falling hardware costs mean humanoid robots are becoming increasingly affordable to buy, and that the UK should act now to regulate their use rather than waiting for problems to emerge. “Humanoid robots are not science fiction anymore. They’re science fact. We are developing the technology faster than the safeguards around it,” he said. “The time to act is now. Rather than waiting for it to come to our door, we should start now. At the moment, anyone can buy some of these robots online,” he added.
A Humanoid Robot – Image Credit Dr Carl Strathearn
He said much of today’s public understanding of humanoid robots is being shaped by highly controlled demonstrations and promotional videos, rather than by what the machines can do in everyday environments. According to Dr Strathearn, many robots still struggle when they are taken out of carefully managed settings, despite the impression often created online. “I don’t think robots are going to take over the world. A choreographed video is not the real truth of a robot’s capabilities,” he said.
The researcher’s core concern is that the risks lie less in fictional takeover scenarios and more in the potential misuse of machines that are not yet fully understood. “But the risk is that they are misused, and it only takes one major incident for it to ripple through the whole industry,” he said. He also argues that schools should be teaching pupils about robot ethics, both to build understanding of the technology and to help prepare young people for the future economy.
“Robots are a really tangible way of learning key STEM skills, and preparing people for the future economy,” Dr Strathearn said. Humanoid robots are increasingly being developed by some of the world’s biggest technology companies, with firms promoting visions of robots working in factories, warehouses, homes and public spaces. However, there are currently no specific UK laws that deal directly with the use of humanoid robots in public spaces, around children, or in situations where people could be harmed, leaving open questions around safety, liability, privacy and misuse.
Dr Strathearn said other major economies, including China and the United States, are already starting to look more closely at humanoid robot standards and oversight, while the UK risks falling behind that pace. From a Scottish perspective, his intervention lands as DataFest brings together technologists, businesses and policymakers to debate how data and AI should be governed. For companies building or deploying robotics in Scotland, the message is that regulatory and ethical questions are likely to move much closer to the centre of product and investment decisions over the coming years.
Paul McMillan, community and events programme manager at The Data Lab, said the conference is designed to bring together different perspectives from technology, business, academia and policy to discuss some of the biggest questions surrounding AI and emerging technologies. “As AI systems become more powerful and visible in everyday life, conversations around trust, governance, regulation and public understanding are becoming increasingly important,” McMillan said. “Dr Strathearn’s session reflects exactly the kind of debate DataFest aims to encourage, looking at how we balance innovation and opportunity with responsibility and public confidence,” he added.
“Alongside discussions around robotics and AI, this year’s programme explores everything from cybersecurity and infrastructure to skills, creativity and the long-term impact of AI on society,” McMillan said. For Scotland’s tech ecosystem, the debate around humanoid robots is likely to sit alongside broader questions about how AI is embedded in public services, industry and education. The regulatory choices the UK makes over the next few years will shape not only public trust in emerging technologies but also the environment in which Scottish robotics and AI firms seek to compete.
