VANCOUVER —  Magna International will start testing humanoid robots from Vancouver-based Sanctuary AI within the next few months, as the car-parts giant moves toward deploying the AI-equipped machines in its factories.

“This partnership will allow us to train our AI control system on challenging manufacturing environments,” said Sanctuary CEO Geordie Rose in an email to The Logic. 

Founded in 2018, Sanctuary has been developing a humanoid robot, one mimicking the form and intelligence of a person, to work jobs currently held by humans across multiple industries. The deal includes an undisclosed investment by Magna in Sanctuary—its second in the West Coast startup.

Phoenix’s first days: Phoenix—an AI-powered machine complete with fingers and thumbs—will start its employment in a pilot project sometime this fiscal quarter, the companies said. They declined to share how many robots would be deployed, or at which location.

Phoenix has been tested in commercial settings, including brief stints at a Mark’s and Sport Chek, but this will be its first time working at Magna, Rose said.

The robots will operate in “pilot mode,” said Magna spokesperson Dave Niemiec in an email to The Logic, meaning a human rigged out with wearable controls moves its hands rather than the machines acting with full autonomy.

The race to automation: Magna isn’t the only auto-parts manufacturer looking to incorporate autonomous humanoid robots into its workforce in pursuit of lower labour costs. Mercedes-Benz and Texas startup Apptronik are piloting a robot called Apollo in manufacturing. BMW is trying to determine how it can use a creation designed by Figure, another startup in the space, to help build cars.

Meanwhile, Tesla has unveiled an in-house humanoid, Optimus Gen 2, that it hopes can one day perform repetitive tasks now done by humans. And the Toyota Research Institute, an arm of the carmaker, has been teaching robots to perform tasks like making breakfast and pouring liquids.

Magna (hearts) robots: The auto company’s interest in developing autonomous robots has become clear in recent years. It first invested in Sanctuary’s Series A, a $75.5-million round announced in March 2022 through Magna Technology Investments, its venture capital arm.

It also partnered with Oakland, Calif.-based Cartken to develop autonomous delivery carts, which grocery giant Loblaw piloted last year at one of its Toronto supermarkets.

What’s next: Magna and Sanctuary will start by smoothing out kinks in Phoenix’s performance, while assessing costs and scalability with a view to manufacturing the robot, Rose said.

Wider-scale deployment into Magna’s manufacturing facilities will follow, he said, adding, “We imagine it will grow in size and scope over time.” Sanctuary is using such projects to get the robot to where it can perform many of the workplace tasks that humans can. 

Rose said Sanctuary’s robots are in the field with other customers, but did not share specifics.

As for concerns about job loss, Rose maintained his stance that Phoenix is intended to help with an impending labour shortage, relieving workers of unfulfilling jobs rather than replacing them en masse. Magna echoed that view, saying technology like Phoenix holds the potential to lighten workers’ physical burdens while creating new opportunities.