Humanoid robots, artificial intelligence and machines that even play football: IFA 2026 shows how quickly robotics is becoming more suitable for everyday use. We look at the most exciting developments and the question of how close the future actually is.
Artikel anhören
Browser-Sprachausgabe
live
Robots that walk.
Machines that complete tasks independently.
Artificial intelligence that analyzes its environment.
And robots playing football against each other.
What would have sounded a lot like science fiction a few years ago can currently be observed at the IFA 2026 in Berlin.
The technology fair runs from 4. until September 8, 2026 and, in addition to televisions, computers, household appliances and smart home technology, this year will show a particularly large number of developments from the areas of robotics and artificial intelligence.
It's no longer just about small vacuum cleaner robots that occasionally desperately try to get out from under a chair.
Robotics is becoming much more ambitious.
So-called humanoid robots are particularly noticeable.
These are machines whose structure is at least partially similar to the human body.
For example, they have arms, legs, hands or a head with cameras and other sensors.
The goal behind it is entirely logical.
After all, our environment was built for people.
Stairs, doors, shelves, tools and workstations are designed for our bodies.
A robot with a similar body shape could therefore theoretically use existing environments without having to completely rebuild factories or buildings.
This is precisely why numerous companies and research institutions are investing in this technology.
A rather unusual example can be observed at the trade fair today.
The Berlin United team from the Humboldt University of Berlin presents robots that play football.
The whole thing is part of the RoboCup environment.
It's not just about letting a remote-controlled robot kick a ball.
The machines have to recognize their surroundings, make decisions and coordinate their movements.
This makes football a kind of test laboratory for robotics.
Because a football field is anything but predictable.
Other players move.
The ball constantly changes position.
Decisions have to be made quickly.
And a robot then has to try to keep its balance.
People do many of these things automatically.
This represents an enormous technical challenge for machines.
A large part of these future technologies can be found in the area.
IFA 2026 brings new technology to Berlin. From artificial intelligence and robotics to smart home and gaming, numerous brands show their latest developments.
Read JannikjbiIn the past few days, I have made decisions that were anything but easy for me. VoltFM has ended, I have left Shardly and I am also withdrawing from Discord for an indefinite period of time. Why I am taking this step, what I have learned from my previous
Read LeaksKaum ein Spiel wurde vor seinem Release so intensiv geleakt wie GTA 6. Vom riesigen Entwicklungs-Leak 2022 über den vorzeitig veröffentlichten ersten Trailer bis zu angeblichen Gameplay-Details und neuen Gerüchten: Wir schauen ausführlich darauf, was tatsächlich passiert ist, was
ReadThis part of the fair focuses particularly on start-ups, research and new technologies.
In 2026 the area was significantly expanded.
Around 300 exhibitors are expected.
Companies, research institutions and start-ups from numerous countries present their ideas there.
This makes it pretty clear:
Robotics and AI are no longer a minor topic at the IFA.
An important reason is artificial intelligence.
A classic industrial robot usually carries out very precisely defined movements.
For example:
Take component.
Rotate arm.
Insert component.
Drive back.
Repeat.
This works extremely reliably as long as the environment does not change.
Modern robotics is increasingly taking a different approach.
Robots should be able to perceive their surroundings using cameras and sensors and then react to changes.
AI systems can help recognize objects, assess situations and select appropriate actions.
This means that a machine that always performs the same movement may eventually become a much more flexible system.
However, we already encounter robotics in everyday life.
The best-known example is probably the vacuum cleaner robot.
The first models drove through rooms in a rather chaotic manner.
Modern devices, on the other hand, can map apartments, detect obstacles and plan their cleaning route.
At the IFA it becomes clear where this area could develop.
In the future, robots should not only take on a single task.
In the long term, systems could be created that handle different household tasks.
However, a lot of development will probably be necessary before a humanoid robot can empty the dishwasher in the morning, clean the apartment and then make breakfast.
What is particularly interesting is how quickly our perception changes.
Just a few years ago, a walking humanoid robot was something that was mainly seen in research videos.
Today, such systems can be found at major technology trade fairs.
Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone will have a robot at home next year.
There is a huge difference between an impressive trade fair demonstration and a reliable everyday product.
Robots must be safe.
They must function reliably.
They have to be affordable.
And they actually have to offer an advantage over existing solutions.
New technology is not automatically useful technology.
Just because a robot can theoretically complete a certain task does not mean that it is the best solution for it.
Automation makes sense for some applications.
In factories, robots can take on dangerous or physically demanding tasks.
In logistics, autonomous systems can transport goods.
Even in the event of a disaster, machines could theoretically enter areas that are too dangerous for humans.
The calculation may look different in your own living room.
A humanoid household robot would have to offer significant added value so that people would be willing to spend a lot of money on it.
The past few years have been heavily influenced by generative AI.
Chatbots generate texts.
Image generators create images.
Other models analyze voice, videos or large amounts of data.
Robotics connects this digital intelligence with the real world.
And that's exactly what makes the development particularly interesting.
An AI system in a computer can produce an incorrect answer.
A robot, on the other hand, can actually move and interact with its environment.
This makes safety and reliability even more important.
Of course, we currently don't have a humanoid robot in the editorial department.
The budget was barely enough for this paragraph.
But let's imagine for a moment that we have one:
JannikBot 1.0
Tasks:
Known issues:
Maybe we'll wait a few more years before ordering.
👀 Easter Egg found.
Of course, technology fairs are always showcases.
Companies consciously show products and concepts there that are intended to attract attention.
Not every technology presented will later be successful.
Some concepts disappear again.
Others, on the other hand, actually change our everyday lives.
When it comes to smartphones, it wasn't clear for a long time how central they would become.
The same applied to streaming, smart homes and voice assistants.
When it comes to humanoid robots, this story has not yet been written.
That can hardly be answered seriously today.
Technically, the field is developing rapidly.
From an economic point of view, however, many questions remain unanswered.
How expensive will such machines be?
How frequently do they need to be serviced?
How long do they work?
How safe are they?
And what tasks can they really do better than existing devices?
Only when these questions are answered convincingly will it be decided whether humanoid robots will actually become a mass product.
The IFA 2026 shows quite clearly that robotics is experiencing a new surge in development.
Humanoid machines are increasingly leaving pure research laboratories and are being demonstrated publicly.
At the same time, artificial intelligence ensures that robots can analyze their surroundings ever better and react more flexibly to situations.
We are still a long way from a world in which there is a humanoid robot running around in every household.
But the gap between science fiction and reality is narrowing.
Maybe in ten years we will look back at pictures from IFA 2026 and think:
“Awesome, were robots that primitive back then?”
Or we ask ourselves:
“Why did we really want a robot to empty our dishwasher?”
It remains to be seen which of the two variants will occur.
The only thing that is certain is:
The machines are currently learning to run. 🤖
Jannikjbi