Live Science Poll: 42% Would Let Humanoid Robots Handle Chores, 36% Distrust

Humanoid robots folding clothes, loading dishwashers, and vacuuming used to look like a scene from The Jetsons. Today, robotics companies are racing to develop machines that can navigate everyday environments and handle household chores, making the idea of robots taking over housework feel increasingly real. But the fact that a robot can do the job does not mean people are ready to invite it into their homes.

Live Science recently surveyed readers, asking whether they would be willing to let a humanoid robot do household chores. The results show a clear split between those ready to hand over the work and those who do not trust the technology. The question is no longer whether robots can perform some chores in controlled settings, but whether they can be trusted in messy, unpredictable homes. The survey, reported by Live Science, highlights how far public perception lags behind rapid advances in robotics. That gap between capability and trust is the central finding.

By Sept. 15, more than 600 people had participated. 42% selected 'Yes, take my chores.'

That willingness also appeared in the comments. One reader said he would be willing, but doubted his wife would approve of the robot's work. Another reader replied that he should take over her chores for a year and then report back.

36% of voters chose the opposite answer: they did not trust a robot to touch their plates or data. The remaining respondents chose 'wait and see, let my neighbor try first.'

The concern readers expressed was not privacy. It was whether the robot's hands are dexterous enough. Overall, the responses indicate that a significant minority remains open to robot helpers, but trust is far from universal. The poll was conducted by Live Science, a science news outlet.