There is a school of thought in robotics/AI that believe embodiment is necessary (or at least the fastest way) for us to learn abstract thought. Embodiment can really span the gamut of meanings, but there are definitely researchers that believe humanoid robots are the best path forward to that goal.
If you have a more specific goal in mind, e.g. solving a small set of industrial/commercial use cases, that changes the calculus dramatically.
If you have a more specific goal in mind, e.g. solving a small set of industrial/commercial use cases, that changes the calculus dramatically.