Inside the Robot Store of 2035: Shopping for Intelligence

By Futurist Thomas Frey

Walk into a robot store fifteen years from now, and you’ll face a bewildering choice: the left side of the showroom displays sleek humanoid robots standing at attention like a row of butlers awaiting employment. The right side showcases an array of specialized machines—some with multiple arms, others on wheels or tracks, a few that look more like articulated snakes than anything human.

But the real decision isn’t about form factor. It’s about intelligence. And that’s where the price tags get interesting.

The HEU Rating System

Robots will be rated in Human Equivalency Units—a standardized measure of cognitive capability that helps consumers understand exactly what they’re buying. A 1.0 HEU robot performs roughly at average human intelligence across general tasks. A 0.5 HEU handles simpler, more repetitive work. A 3.0 or 4.0 HEU? That’s operating at genius level, capable of complex problem-solving, creative synthesis, and strategic planning that surpasses most humans.

The pricing structure follows a steep curve. A 0.3 HEU specialized cleaning robot might cost $2,000. A 1.0 HEU general-purpose humanoid runs $25,000. A 2.0 HEU assistant capable of managing your household, finances, and schedule? $75,000. That 4.0 HEU strategic advisor robot that can run your business? You’re looking at $250,000 or more.

The salesperson’s pitch won’t focus on features but on matching intelligence levels to needs. “What problems are you trying to solve?” becomes the opening question. Because here’s the truth most shoppers don’t initially grasp: you probably don’t need the smartest robot. You need the right robot for your specific situation.

The Humanoid Section: Generalists at a Premium

The humanoid robots command attention—and premium prices—for good reason. Their human-like form allows them to navigate spaces designed for humans, use human tools, and interact socially in ways that feel natural. A 1.0 HEU humanoid can handle diverse household tasks: cooking, cleaning, basic repairs, running errands, even providing companionship.

But that versatility comes at a cost. Humanoid engineering is expensive. Bipedal locomotion is complex. Dexterous hands with human-like grip require sophisticated mechanics. Facial expressions and natural conversation demand advanced AI. You’re paying not just for intelligence but for the ability to seamlessly integrate into human environments.

The showroom displays various models: The Household Assistant (0.8 HEU) handles routine chores and follows instructions reliably. The Personal Companion (1.2 HEU) manages your schedule, anticipates needs, and engages in meaningful conversation. The Professional Assistant (1.8 HEU) can handle complex projects, learn specialized skills, and work semi-independently. The Executive Partner (3.0 HEU) makes strategic decisions, manages teams of lower-HEU robots, and solves novel problems without human oversight.

Each step up the intelligence ladder brings exponential price increases. The engineering challenge of creating truly human-level general intelligence is immense. Creating superhuman intelligence is even harder. Manufacturers price accordingly.

The Specialist Section: Purpose-Built Efficiency

Cross the aisle to the specialized robot section, and the value proposition shifts dramatically. These machines sacrifice versatility for excellence at specific tasks—and the prices reflect that efficiency.

A 0.4 HEU garden maintenance robot costs $3,500 and handles everything from mowing to weeding to watering with minimal supervision. It’s not smart enough for conversation or creative landscaping, but it doesn’t need to be. It knows plants, soil, and seasonal care routines.

A 0.6 HEU kitchen assistant with six specialized arms costs $8,000 and can prepare complex meals faster than most humans. It won’t help you with homework or walk your dog, but if cooking is your pain point, it delivers focused capability at a fraction of a humanoid’s cost.

A 1.5 HEU medical diagnostic specialist runs $45,000—expensive, but far cheaper than a 1.5 HEU humanoid because it only needs intelligence for medical analysis, not general-purpose problem-solving. It can’t do laundry, but it can detect diseases earlier than most doctors.

The specialists prove a fundamental principle: narrow intelligence is cheaper to produce than broad intelligence. If you know exactly what you need, buying specialized capability makes economic sense.

The Shopper’s Dilemma

Most first-time robot buyers make the same mistake: they overestimate the intelligence they need. Seduced by the humanoid section and impressed by high HEU ratings, they gravitate toward expensive generalist models when specialized, lower-intelligence robots would serve them better.

The savvy salesperson asks probing questions: “How many different types of tasks do you need help with? Do those tasks require creative problem-solving or predictable execution? Will the robot work independently or under supervision? Do you need social interaction or just task completion?”

A family with young children and elderly parents might actually need a 1.5 HEU humanoid capable of childcare judgment, elder assistance, and adapting to unpredictable situations. A single professional who travels frequently might only need a 0.7 HEU home maintenance robot that keeps the house clean and systems running.

Many households will end up buying multiple specialized robots rather than one expensive humanoid—a 0.4 HEU cleaning system, a 0.6 HEU cooking assistant, a 0.5 HEU garden bot, together costing less than a single 1.0 HEU generalist while delivering superior performance in each domain.

The Used Market and Upgrades

Like cars, robots will have a robust used market. A three-year-old 1.0 HEU humanoid might sell for $12,000, making advanced capability accessible to middle-class buyers who couldn’t afford new models. The question becomes: do you want newer limited intelligence or older advanced intelligence?

Software upgrades will complicate the picture. Many manufacturers will offer HEU boosts through cloud-connected AI improvements. Your 1.0 HEU robot might upgrade to 1.3 HEU through a $3,000 software package, provided its hardware can handle the increased processing demands. This creates upgrade cycles similar to smartphones—do you buy the latest model or squeeze more life from your current robot through incremental improvements?

Lease and subscription models will emerge for high-HEU robots. Why buy a $250,000 4.0 HEU strategic advisor when you can lease it for $3,500 monthly? Companies will offer intelligence-as-a-service, letting customers scale HEU levels up or down based on current needs.

The Social Stratification

Inevitably, HEU ratings will become status symbols. Just as we judge people by their cars, homes, and watches, we’ll judge them by their robots. A 3.0 HEU humanoid butler signals wealth and sophistication. Multiple specialized bots suggest practical middle-class sensibility. No robots at all? Either principled resistance or economic constraint.

Employment implications are significant. As robot intelligence increases, the economic value of human labor must differentiate itself. A 0.5 HEU robot replaces routine manual labor. A 2.0 HEU robot competes with knowledge workers. What happens when 4.0 HEU robots outthink most professionals?

The uncomfortable truth: humans will need to justify our value relative to the HEU rating of robots that could replace us. This creates pressure to develop uniquely human capabilities—emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, creative innovation, strategic vision—that remain expensive to replicate in artificial systems.

Final Thoughts

The robot store of 2035 isn’t selling products—it’s selling cognitive capability measured in standardized units. The HEU system makes intelligence comparable, purchasable, and scalable in ways that will fundamentally reshape how we think about work, value, and human purpose.

The question facing every shopper won’t be “should I buy a robot?” but rather “how much intelligence do I need, and what form should it take?” The answers will vary wildly based on individual circumstances, budgets, and needs.

What’s certain is that intelligence—once the exclusive domain of biological beings—will become a commodity you can buy off the shelf, rated, priced, and packaged for consumer convenience. And that changes everything.

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