Robots can already walk, lift, manipulate objects and drive through major cities, but when do they become reliably useful?Welcome to the first episode of Mere Mortals Robotics: a monthly, plainspoken exploration of robotics, physical AI, automation and the future of work.In this August 2026 state of play, I look beyond backflips, boxing demonstrations and futuristic marketing to ask where robots are beginning to perform useful, repeatable work.We explore:• Why robot intelligence is moving from “see and act” towards “see, plan, check and recover”• What Gemini Robotics 2 suggests about whole-body control and embodied intelligence• Whether robotaxis are becoming an ordinary part of life in American cities• Why 2026 may be a year of convergence for AI, hardware and robotics• How to separate edited demonstrations from pilots, paid deployments and real fleets• Where Figure, Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, 1X and other humanoid companies currently sit• Why warehouses remain the clearest economic proof point• China’s speed in manufacturing and commercialising robots• The difficult reality of robots inside homes and healthcare• Australia’s potential advantage in mining, remote operations and space robotics• The four-part equation for useful robotic labour: capability × reliability × economics × trustThe key idea is simple: watch the work, not just the robot.00:00 Why I’m starting a robotics podcast01:39 Working Robots: August 202602:24 The robotics signal is getting stronger03:56 Three developments defining August06:43 How robot intelligence is changing08:10 Are robotaxis becoming ordinary?10:16 Is 2026 the year of convergence?11:26 From imitation to orchestration12:14 The robotics evidence ladder14:05 Industrial robots versus spectacle14:51 Why warehouses are the economic proof15:43 China’s robotics manufacturing advantage16:38 The difficult reality of home robots17:49 Australia, mining and space robotics19:52 The equation for useful robotic labour22:01 What to watch through the end of 202624:36 Where Mere Mortals Robotics goes next Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBnTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast