There are certain moments at technology events where the future stops feeling theoretical.
At Tech Week 2026 in Auckland, that moment came when Siobhan Greene, Instinctively Real Media’s Founder found herself standing at a robotics presentation at Auckland University of Technology, wearing a Meta Quest 2 headset and controlling a humanoid robot in real time. Not watching. Not simulating. Actually controlling it.
The experience was part of Auckland University of Technology’s Robotics in Action: Humanoids, Quadrupeds, and Physical AI session, led by Dr. Julia Ma, Senior Lecturer and Director of Women In Tech with her students from AUT School of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences. The showcase highlighted cutting-edge robotics research and real-world applications of Physical AI, demonstrating how intelligent autonomous systems are rapidly moving from simulation into real-world environments.
What made the session particularly compelling wasn’t just the R&D and technology itself, but the opportunity for attendees to interact directly with it.
AI stepping into the physical world: Physical AI has arrived
During the AUT session, students working on New Zealand’s first Unitree G1 Edu Ultimate humanoid and Go2 quadruped robotic systems presented current projects and practical applications being explored through the university’s robotics programme. The students identified several real-world applications where implementing robotics becomes paramount for critical scenarios and where human safety matters such as disaster recovery operations, traversing construction sites and industrial inspections. Through a combination of short presentations, live demonstrations, and hands-on experiences, attendees gained insight into how robotics, computer vision, XR interfaces, and autonomous systems are converging into intelligent machines capable of operating in complex real-world environments.
One of the standout experiences was the opportunity to control a humanoid robot using Meta Quest XR technology. The humanoid demo immediately changed the conversation.
Using the Meta Quest 2 headset, Greene was able to engage with the robot through an immersive XR interface that translated hand movement and interaction into physical robotic response. Nearby, attendees were also given hands-on access to AUT’s Unitree quadruped robots — robot dogs capable of navigating physical environments while responding to human commands through immersive interfaces.
It wasn’t perfect, polished sci-fi. It was something more important: It was real.
You could feel the latency challenges. You could sense the complexity of spatial mapping. You could immediately understand how much co-ordination exists between AI perception, motion systems, sensors, XR interfaces, and human input.
Students also demonstrated emerging work in low-latency robotic control, advanced hand-tracking systems, and the development of a new inverse kinematics (IK) solver designed to improve robotic dexterity and responsiveness – an area where Greene’s deep professional experience stems during her time at a UK start-up specialising in believable real-time character body motion used everywhere from training and simulation for enterprise, game development, television and movie production, immersive experiences and live broadcast. From a grass-roots perspective, watching these students’ systems operate made it clear just how much innovation and experimentation by AUT’s students is happening beneath the surface of what might appear to be a simple robot movement.
And that’s exactly why it was powerful.
Because once you physically experience embodied AI, you stop thinking about robotics as distant automation and start understanding it as a new interaction layer between humans and machines.
The Humanoid Robots AUTo and AUTaia have already entertained football fans during the Auckland FC versus Wellington Phoenix 2025 match. In the video below, the duo are stars of the show performing and interacting with excited students from Bailey Road School with a display of humanistic moves.
Deloitte webinar – What Physical AI & Robotics Means for New Zealand: The Moment of Acceleration
We hear from Deloitte’s NZ Physical AI team and guest speakers:
What’s Real: Andromeda – social companion robot
What’s Next: Dr Amanda J. Williamson – what’s happening in China
What’s Ours: Paulo Osorio and Lisa Tamati – Physical AI in NZ Health and caregiving
Greene joined the session which offered an engaging look at how AI-powered robotics are already moving beyond theory and into everyday operations across a range of industries. The session highlighted several compelling case studies, including Moxi robots in US hospitals that take on routine logistical tasks, freeing up nurses to spend more time with patients and saving up to 30 minutes per shift. Other examples included robotics mega-factories in China, where highly automated systems are building robots at scale, and companion robots being used in aged care settings to support wellbeing and reduce loneliness.
The webinar also shared insights from Deloitte’s recent visits to leading innovation hubs in China, including ABB’s robotics mega-factory and the wider Shenzhen technology ecosystem. These examples demonstrated just how quickly physical AI is evolving and becoming embedded in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. They discuss hands on experience with facial recognition implemented at hotels, autonomous delivery and taxi services, and drones delivering tea in public spaces.
One of the strongest messages from the session was that physical AI is not about robots replacing people. Instead, it is about helping people do their jobs more effectively. Examples discussed included AI-assisted field work, remote operations through XR technologies, autonomous inspection and maintenance, digital twins, and robotics supporting workers in hazardous or labour-constrained environments. Take a deeper dive into Deloitte’s whitepaper on the subject of Physical AI: The Moment of Acceleration.
The conversation was particularly relevant for New Zealand. Speakers noted that our strengths in engineering, agritech, research, and innovation create a strong foundation for adopting these technologies. Healthcare was highlighted as a key opportunity, with discussion around how robotics could help alleviate workforce shortages and support an ageing population including supporting caregivers. Lisa Tamati discusses the impact of her own personal experience caring for her loved one 24/7. Overall, the session reinforced that physical AI is becoming a practical reality today, and that New Zealand has an opportunity to be proactive in exploring how these technologies can enhance productivity, resilience, and service delivery across the economy.
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