Apptronik vs Persona AI: Industrial & logistics compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

Apptronik ranks 20 on the Humanoids 100 with a score of 77; Persona AI ranks 81 with 55. Apptronik is ahead on production, commercials, technology, positioning and firepower. Persona AI is ahead on deployment. Level on progress and leverage. Apptronik is based in Austin, United States, Persona AI in Houston, United States. Apptronik: Private, founded 2016. Apptronik is named in 166 signals and Persona AI in 46.

Apptronik →

Austin, Texas, United States · Humanoids · Systems / Industrial & logistics · Private · founded 2016 · apptronik.com

Apptronik develops and sells Apollo humanoid robots for material handling and repetitive workflows across manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and retail.

Humanoids 100 · rank 20 · score 77Robotics · watchlist · score 64

Scores, Humanoids (of 10)

Deployment5
Production6
Commercials5
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Apptronik is a US humanoid maker whose Apollo robot is produced by Jabil on an automotive-grade path, with a new-generation robot debut announced for 2026 and a Google DeepMind partnership putting Gemini Robotics on Apollo. It closed $935M+ in Series A funding (a $403M round in March 2025 and a $520M Series A-X in February 2026; ~$5B secondary valuation) with Mercedes-Benz taking an equity stake and a multi-plant deployment (described as the second most significant automotive humanoid deployment after BMW/Figure) plus a GXO partnership. It is effectively pre-revenue at disclosure level (pilot-only, quote-based).

Latest signals

  • Tesla, Figure, and Apptronik are preparing new humanoid robots without announcing reveal dates.Humanoids Daily
  • Google demonstrated Gemini 4 Argon controlling Apptronik’s Apollo humanoid in a cornhole taskhumanoid.guide
  • Jabil is working with humanoid robot developer Apptronik.The Robot Report

166 signals name Apptronik.

Facts, with sources

  • Opened Robot Park to collect Apollo 2 training datahumanoid.guide
  • Center for Human and Robot Co-Adaptation assembled 39 researchers from six universities and industry collaborators including ApptronikThe AI Insider
  • Center for Human and Robot Co-Adaptation assembled researchers from six universities and industry collaborators including ApptronikThe AI Insider

147 facts on file.

Persona AI →

Houston, Texas, United States · Humanoids · Systems / Industrial & logistics · personainc.ai

Persona AI develops industrial humanoid robots for tasks such as shipyard welding, sorting and assembly; its Gen 1 robot is planned for HD Hyundai shipyards.

Humanoids 100 · rank 81 · score 55Robotics · watchlist · score 48

Scores, Humanoids (of 10)

Deployment7
Production2
Commercials2
Progress10
Technology4
Positioning6
Firepower4
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Persona AI is a Houston-based humanoid robotics company founded in 2024 by NASA Robonaut technical lead Nic Radford. It is developing rugged, heat-resistant humanoids for shipyards and heavy industry, including welding, grinding, and structural assembly, with an explicit defense channel; its ecosystem reach includes strategic joint development and shipyard validation work with HD Hyundai.

Latest signals

  • HD Hyundai Robotics plans to integrate humanoid perception and manipulation technology into existing factory robotsHumanoids Daily
  • Persona AI launched Gen 1, a 175 cm industrial humanoid robot.humanoid.guide
  • Persona AI is offering Gen 1 as a prototype and has partnered with HD Hyundai.humanoid.guide

46 signals name Persona AI.

Facts, with sources

  • Gen 1 offered as a prototype; Persona AI has partnered with HD Hyundaihumanoid.guide
  • Partnerships with HD Hyundai and POSCO for shipyard welding deploymentIEEE Spectrum Robotics
  • HD Hyundai and Persona AI signed a formal partnership to commercialize humanoid welding robotsHumanoids Daily

34 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

Apptronik or Persona AI: which is ahead in humanoids?

Apptronik ranks 20 on the Humanoids 100 with a score of 77; Persona AI ranks 81 with 55. Apptronik is ahead on production, commercials, technology, positioning and firepower. Persona AI is ahead on deployment. Level on progress and leverage. Apptronik is based in Austin, United States, Persona AI in Houston, United States. Apptronik: Private, founded 2016. Apptronik is named in 166 signals and Persona AI in 46.

How do Apptronik and Persona AI compare?

Apptronik ranks 20 on the Humanoids 100 with a score of 77; Persona AI ranks 81 with 55. Apptronik is ahead on production, commercials, technology, positioning and firepower. Persona AI is ahead on deployment. Level on progress and leverage. Apptronik is based in Austin, United States, Persona AI in Houston, United States. Apptronik: Private, founded 2016. Apptronik is named in 166 signals and Persona AI in 46. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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