Move over, Tesla. World-class robotics are being built in Cambridge, Ontario. Tucked inside the Grand Innovations building is a homegrown AI-meets-robotics story that feels like sci-fi … if sci-fi was built on hustle, haptics and a lot of humility.

The story is driven by local companies Mirsee Robotics, the creators of Canada’s most advanced humanoid robots, and Nucleus, the AI startup looking to power AI agents and big AI enterprise deployments.

“This is a really incredible untold story,” said John Stix, Evangelist at Mirsee and Co-Founder of Nucleus, which provides AI-powered voice assistants for businesses of all sizes, helping organizations automate customer support, internal workflows and more. “Tarek has a huge dream, and in this age of 'Buy Canadian,' I've seen a lot of great companies end up being American companies. There's no reason in the world why other countries can't be buying robots from Canada.”

A robot built on love

Tarek Rahim is the founder and CEO of Mirsee Robotics and has spent the last eight years building humanoids from the ground up, designing everything in-house, from robotic hands to vision systems.

“We’re one of two major humanoid companies in Canada,” Rahim said. “We’ve been around since 2017 and always had this grand vision of producing humanoid robots. While they initially operate under human control, we’re rolling out AI functionality through software updates that make each generation more intelligent and capable over time.”

But Mirsee didn’t start with Hollywood contracts or national defence projects. It started with the personal goal of Rahim and co-founder Robert Ings, helping their aging parents.

“My mom was having some health issues at the time, and so was Rob’s. With limited access to long-term care services, we believed humanoid ‘avatars’ could help by giving caregivers instant access to clients,” said Rahim. 

“At the time, there were some difficulties getting into that market, so we had to pivot. But with AI advancements and lower costs, it’s something we can revisit.”

Early attempts to break into that market were met with challenges, so the team pivoted. But the mission and motivation to build robots that help people is still the same. Today, that vision is unfolding across industries, from elder care and surgical robotics to remote operations and national security.

From omelettes to outer space

Since launching in 2017, Mirsee has built three generations of humanoid robots. Their latest, MH3, is now in pre-production. 

“Every subsystem is designed in-house. So the arms, the heads, the vision system, literally everything that goes into building a humanoid, we design and assemble here in Cambridge, Ontario,” said Rahim.

“In January 2021, we had the highest dexterity humanoid robot on the planet,” Rahim said. “We were filming scenes where the robot’s cooking omelettes, pouring drinks, and interacting with people, and it’s still actually quite impressive.”

Mirsee Robotics has worked with Paramount+, Apple TV, and the XPRIZE Foundation. They’ve collaborated with Stanford University on MRI-safe surgical robots. They’ve even caught the attention of a number of space agencies.

Robots with a national mission

The Department of National Defence (DND) recently awarded Mirsee Robotics $500,000 through its IDEaS program to develop high-immersion, teleoperated robots for hazardous jobs. 

“There are lots of careers where people have to deal with hazardous chemicals. Robots can do those just fine,” said Rahim. “There’s no sense in having humans exposed to those workplace hazards.”

After securing the DND grant, Mirsee launched a water treatment pilot aimed at reducing boil water advisories in First Nations communities. With the help of Mirsee’s robots, certified operators in First Nations communities can remotely manage water plants in remote locations.

“Right now, they have to fly in bottled water, which is estimated to cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” said Rahim.

Building for today

While some humanoid startups are focused on full autonomy, a goal that may still be several years away, Mirsee has taken a more practical path.

Their robots use immersive VR and haptic controls to put skilled workers virtually on site, instantly. That means utility now, in power plants, oil rigs, remote communities, and eventually, elder care.

“The goal is to target jobs that are dirty, dangerous, and remote,” said Rahim. “Hazardous roles in nuclear plants, electrical substations, oil rigs, robots can do those just fine. And as AI models mature, we’ll keep rolling out updates that make them smarter and more capable over time.”

The future AI brain behind the brawn

“In the future, we imagine a powerful synergy, where Mirsee builds the body and Nucleus quite possibly could power the AI brain,” said Tarek. “It’s still a vision at this stage, but as the technology evolves, that partnership remains a compelling possibility. The same goal drives both companies: solving the next generation of challenges for the enterprises of tomorrow.”

Nucleus is building the voice and intelligence layer that could one day live inside humanoid robots. Today, their primary focus is on enterprise-grade AI voice solutions. Their big vision scenario is pairing powerful conversational AI with physical form.

“Imagine you have ChatGPT-like intelligence in a physical body that not only converses with you but also reminds you to take your medications or folds your laundry,” said Stix.

The humanoid robotics sector is expected to become a major industry throughout the 2030s. Multiple market analysts forecast rapid growth because of advancements in AI, machine learning and robotics hardware. The market is predicted to surge from about $2.92 billion this year to as much as $15.26 billion by 2030. 

Primary drivers for this expansion include tech improvements, labour shortages and demand for automation in elder care, logistics, security and hospitality. The sector is expected to accelerate even further in the latter half of the 2030s, with adoption moving from early industrial and business uses to more widespread service and domestic environments.

Research also suggests that Canadian companies that embrace robotics technologies increased their productivity, and on average, grew their workforce by nearly 20 per cent, which suggests robotics adoption could help address the skilled labour shortage in the country.

Ready to scale

What Mirsee needs now is visibility, strategic partners and investment capital to take this Canadian success story to the next level.

“The investment capital in Canada is quite scarce and difficult to obtain,” Rahim said. “They’re doing a lot in AI, but it’s the embodiment of AI that’s going to be the next big thing.”

“They’ve done everything they can and now they need a partner to really help elevate them,” added Stix. “This is an example of an industry that’s going to open up in the 2030s, that’s going to be in the trillions. So, are we going to be buying robots from Tesla or buying them from Mirsee?”