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Inside MIT's lab training robots for a future in caregiving

04:12

Stephanie Brown
Tiziana Dearing

November 11, 2025

A robot pours a glass of lemonade at MIT's Living Lab. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

MIT researchers huddled around a humanoid robot in a mock kitchen. The robot slowly scooped lemonade powder out of a bowl into a pitcher of water, mixed the liquid, and poured the lemonade into a glass, with no spills.

The space, called the Living Lab, is intended to show researchers how robots could assist people with everyday tasks.

The lab is equipped with a fully functioning kitchen complete with a fridge, sink, center island and cabinets. The researchers teach the robots how to do these tasks by wearing sensors and acting them out.

Scott Kirsner, a columnist with our editorial partner MassLive, joins WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss a recent trip to the lab and the future of robotic caregivers.

See photos from the visit below:

A robot prepares to throw a tennis ball at MIT's lab (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Researcher Joseph DelPreto shows how sensors are placed on a human arm to gather data to to train the robots. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

MIT doctoral candidate Peter Werner works on programming a robotic arm to stock shelves. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

A robot builds a wall of foam bricks. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Humanoid robots at MIT's Living Lab. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

This segment aired on November 11, 2025.