The UK is a global leader in Embodied AI (EAI), where AI powers physical systems to learn and adapt in real-world settings, from self-driving cars to healthcare diagnostics. With over 3,000 AI firms and £1.3 billion in government backing, the UK is shaping the future of robotics beyond sci-fi fantasies. I recently attended a TechAI panel featuring Zehan Wang (founder of Paddington Robotics) and Mohan Mahadevan (CEO Founder at Imagine Health). Their insights revealed where EAI is really heading, and it’s not about the humanoids.
About the Companies
Paddington Robotics
Founded in 2024 in London, Paddington Robotics is a startup tackling AI for general-purpose robotics. Led by Zehan Wang, a former Twitter AI executive with a PhD from Imperial College London, the company aims to enable widespread robotics adoption by solving real-world data challenges. With $2.26 million in funding from 7percent Ventures, their work on adaptive, non-humanoid systems aligns with EAI’s focus on practical, environment-driven intelligence, starting with applications in spaces like supermarkets. 
Imagine Health
Imagine Health, a London-based startup founded in 2025, automates ultrasound diagnostics using embodied AI and robotic arms guided by computer vision. Co-Founder and CEO Mohan Mahadevan, with 20+ years in AI and robotics from Amazon and Tractable, drives its mission to deliver safe, scalable healthcare solutions, reducing practitioner strain.
EAI and Robotics – What’s the Difference?
Embodied AI (EAI) and robotics are related but distinct. EAI focuses on AI systems integrated into physical forms that learn and adapt through environmental interaction, emphasizing intelligent, adaptive behavior (e.g., Wayve’s self-driving cars). Robotics is a broader engineering field designing physical machines for tasks, often with pre-programmed or basic automation, not always requiring advanced AI (e.g., factory robotic arms). While EAI prioritizes cognitive adaptability, robotics centers on mechanical precision and task execution, with EAI being a subset that leverages embodiment for smarter, more flexible systems.
Three Takeaways That Challenged My Thinking
- The humanoid form is overrated. “We don’t need a humanoid standing at the sink doing dishes,” Mohan argued, emphasizing function over sci-fi aesthetics. Zehan advocated for designs like “soft core with multiple limbs on wheels” that prioritize efficiency. This resonates with UK EAI research, where academics draw from nature—like the 1940s cybernetic tortoise that navigated without a human-like form. Paddington Robotics’ focus on general-purpose, non-humanoid systems and Wayve’s autonomous vehicles embody this ethos. The lesson? Let the task dictate the design, not Hollywood.
- The hardware ecosystem lacks standardisation. Mohan and Zehan highlighted a critical bottleneck: robotics hardware is a mess of fragmented components, with “firmware in Chinese and no standards.” Unlike the PC industry’s plug-and-play revolution, robotics innovators wrestle with incompatible parts, pushing them toward suboptimal humanoid platforms. The UK’s AI sector echoes this—53% of firms in a 2023 study flagged resource access as a barrier. Yet, the 2025 AI Opportunities Action Plan promises a 20x compute capacity boost and AI Growth Zones like Culham, which could drive standardization. For now, companies like Paddington Robotics must navigate this chaos strategically.
- Edge cases are the real battleground. Mohan nailed the data challenge: it’s not just volume but diversity. “Once 50 robots are in the field and one is in a bright sunny room not working right, how quickly can I fix that robot in an IP-controlled client environment?” This is where EAI lives or dies. UK researchers tackle this with frameworks like Deep Evolutionary Reinforcement Learning, helping robots adapt to unpredictable settings. Imagine’s work on diverse sensory data and Wayve’s real-world autonomous testing show how EAI must evolve. For founders, this means prioritising adaptability — your robot’s smarts need to keep up with the world.
A Note for Would-be EAI Founders
For founders diving into Embodied AI, the UK is a goldmine: tap into DSIT’s £1.3 billion AI investment or the AI Playbook to find high-impact use cases, from healthcare to infrastructure. Maintenance is your secret weapon—robots aren’t built for easy field repairs, so plan for it. Start small, solve real problems, and leverage the UK’s vibrant ecosystem to scale your vision.
Shaping the Future of EAI
The UK’s EAI revolution, fueled by £1.3 billion in investment opportunity and innovators like Paddington Robotics and Imagine Health, is redefining robotics as adaptive, intelligent systems far beyond humanoid fantasies. Zehan and Mohan’s insights—ditching outdated designs, tackling hardware chaos, and mastering edge cases—point to a future where EAI solves real-world challenges with precision and flexibility. As the UK leads with initiatives like the Culham AI Growth Zone, the question remains: how will we balance UK leadership and innovation with ethical and practical hurdles to make EAI a cornerstone of tomorrow’s world?
