What it is
Manipulation is where perception, contact, control, embodiment, and task semantics meet.
Why it matters
It is one of the hardest tests for Physical AI because small errors change the world state.
How not to overread it
Success on a narrow object set does not prove broad manipulation reliability.
Related edges
Tactile sensing
Dexterous tasks
Tactile integration adds hardware complexity.
Robot policy
Object interaction
Narrow task success is not broad reliability.
Humanoid embodiment
Humanoid robots
Humanoids are one branch of Physical AI.