The robotics industry has a new attendance benchmark. According to MarketScale, the Automate 2026 conference set records with 50,000 registrants, with humanoid robots and industrial AI taking center stage at the event.
Automate is one of the marquee gatherings for the automation and robotics world, where manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers come together to show off machines and software aimed at factories, warehouses, and other industrial settings. A registrant count of 50,000, described by MarketScale as a record, signals unusually strong interest in the technology this year.
Two themes stood out. The first is humanoid robots — machines built in roughly human form, a category that has drawn growing attention as companies race to build robots that can work in spaces designed for people. The second is industrial AI, the application of artificial intelligence to manufacturing and other heavy-industry tasks. MarketScale reports that both took center stage at the conference.
Beyond those headline themes and the record turnout, the source does not detail specific product announcements, companies, or deals.
Why it matters: record attendance at a major industry event is a real-world gauge of momentum, and the spotlight on humanoid robots and industrial AI suggests where automation investment and hiring may be heading next.