Summary: In this interview, Comau leader and IFR’s Women in Robotics 2026 honoree Stefania Ferrero explains how robotics is transforming everyday life behind the scenes, changing the nature of human work, and raising important questions about how to develop this technology responsibly.
Key Takeaways:
- Most robots already shaping daily life are industrial systems working quietly behind the scenes
- Automation is changing human roles, not simply replacing them altogether
- Whether robots are good or bad depends on the people designing, deploying, and guiding them
Not all robots are visible.
Some are tucked inside logistics centers, quietly moving goods. Others are assembling cars on factory floors or helping dismantle electric batteries at the end of their life cycle. Most of us will never see them, but we live with the results every day.
That’s part of what made me want to speak with Stefania Ferrero, a global marketing leader at Comau and one of 11 honorees recognized by the International Federation of Robotics’ (IFR) “Women Shaping the Future of Robotics” for 2026.
While much of the public conversation around robots is focused on humanoids and how visible they’re becoming in everyday situations, Ferrero’s work sits in a very different reality: one where robotics is already deeply embedded in how things are built, moved, and maintained, often away from public view.
In my Q&A with her, we covered a variety of topics, including how robots are already part of everyday life (even if we don’t realize it) and what automation really means for people’s jobs and our future.
Stefania Ferrero’s Path to Robotics
As the Chief Marketing & Solutions Portfolio Officer at Comau, a global robotics and automation company headquartered in Turin, Italy, Ferrero oversees a massive global footprint. Yet her perspective remains deeply personal when I ask about the award from IFR.
“My first thoughts were not about the recognition itself, but about the people and events that have brought me here,” she says.
“My grandfather, for example, taught me that knowledge was a form of freedom, and the environments where I was challenged during moments of change and uncertainty.”
While her path into robotics wasn’t a straight line, the pull was there early on.
“I recently shared the story of when I was a young girl and was fascinated by the way the red robot in front of Comau’s headquarters could move. First impressions tend to stick,” she recalls.
“What drew me in once I grew up was the combination of precision and impact. Robotics is one of the few fields where you can see ideas become something tangible almost immediately.”
It was that tangibility and constant growth that brought her back after venturing into other sectors.
“Advanced robotics is not about machines performing tasks, but about systems that adapt, learn, and interact with people. I find this constant evolution intellectually and professionally engaging.”
Beyond Humanoids: The Reality of “Invisible” Robots
When people hear the word “robot,” they often picture humanoids designed to look like us.
But the reality is that most robots don’t look like us at all. They’re built for specific environments, tasks, and outcomes, operating almost entirely out of sight.
In southern Italy, Comau’s systems are helping assemble vehicles like the Jeep Compass. Elsewhere, their Flex-BD platform automates the process of dismantling worn-out electric vehicle batteries.
The work is both technically demanding and potentially hazardous for humans, highlighting how there are some things robots can do that humans cannot.
When I ask Ferrero where she would point someone who wants to understand how robots are already part of everyday life, her answer is rooted in the invisible environments that keep the world moving.
“I would probably start with places people don’t usually think about, like logistics centers, food production and renewable energy,” she says.
“In reality, many of the things we use every day have been handled, assembled, or checked by robotic systems at some point. Even in healthcare, robots are now being used in surgery or rehabilitation.”
Despite how widespread these systems are, they rarely draw attention.
“The interesting part is that most of this happens quietly,” Ferrero notes, “without people realizing how integrated they really are.”
Bringing Robots Closer to People With Wearable Robotics
Not all industrial robotics are hidden from view. Some of the most interesting developments are bringing robots closer to us — literally.
Comau, for instance, also works in wearable robotics. Its MATE exoskeletons are designed to reduce strain for workers doing physically demanding jobs, making it a strong example of the kinds of robotics many people might not expect.
When I ask Ferrero what types of robots or technologies she’s most excited to see evolve in the coming years, she points to advancements that make automation feel more human-centered.
“I’m particularly interested in technologies that bring robotics closer to people,” she says. “This can include wearable robotics, but it extends to collaborative systems and AI-enabled solutions that adapt to real environments.”
As she sees it, “These technologies are designed to support humans by reducing strain, making complex tasks more accessible and increasing overall safety and well-being.”
For Ferrero, “the evolution of human-centered automation is where I hope to see the most meaningful progress in the coming years.”
A New Perspective on Automation at Work
While few topics spark more anxiety than automation and the idea of robots taking over jobs, Ferrero believes automation redefines human roles rather than replacing them entirely.
“Job replacement claims make headlines, but the reality is quite different,” she says. “What I see happening is more of a transformation of roles. There is a decided shortage of skilled workers in many industries, and robotics helps fill the gap while improving working conditions.”
Rather than eliminating work altogether, she believes automation is shifting what work looks like.
“Tasks become less repetitive or physically demanding, and more focused on supervision, problem-solving, and decision-making,” she says.
That shift doesn’t happen automatically, though.
“The challenge,” Ferrero notes, “is to make sure people are supported through that transition, especially in terms of skills and mindset.”
How Experience Changes the Conversation
Because Ferrero speaks six languages and works across countries and cultures, I was curious whether people in different parts of the world tend to see robots differently.
“Yes, but the differences are often a question of perception,” she replies. “In some regions, robotics is seen as an opportunity for competitiveness and growth. In others, there is more concern about job impact or a loss of control.”
However, what she finds consistent is that “once people see how automation is actually used, especially in collaborative and supportive roles, the perception becomes more balanced. Experience tends to replace fear with understanding.”
That idea struck a chord with me because it applies to many things beyond robotics. So much of what we fear lives in the abstract. But once something becomes real and specific, it’s easier to grasp, and that’s when the conversation tends to change.
Why Robotics Matters to All of Us
For people who don’t work in robotics, it can still feel like a distant world.
But when I ask Ferrero why the average person should care, she brings it back to basics: “Robotics is already shaping how we live and work, whether we notice it or not. Robots influence how products are made, how supply chains operate, and how services are delivered.”
She points out that the reach of these machines has moved far beyond the factory floor.
“What started with automotive and industrial applications has moved to warehousing automation, logistics and fulfillment,” she explains. This means that every time we order something online, we are interacting with a system shaped by automation.
For Ferrero, understanding robotics doesn’t require technical expertise. It’s really about paying attention. “Understanding robotics is as simple as being aware of the systems that are quietly shaping our future.”
Industrial robots may feel abstract from afar. But the closer you look, the harder it is to argue that they have nothing to do with all of us.
The Question That Matters Most
When interviewing people in robotics, I often ask a simple question that rarely has a simple answer: Are robots ultimately good or bad for society?
For Ferrero, the answer isn’t yes or no. It’s more about the intent behind the technology.
“I don’t see robotics as inherently good or bad for society.”
“The evolution of robotics has the potential to improve safety, increase efficiency, and support more sustainable production,” she explains.
“At the same time, I would argue that robotics reflects the intentions and decisions of the people who design and use it. The challenge is to carefully manage this evolution and include people in that process.”
As she asserts, “This is why I think good or bad for society ultimately depends on how responsibly we guide this development.”
The Systems Shaping Our Lives
Most of us won’t walk through a car assembly plant in southern Italy and see robots dismantling electric batteries or helping workers on factory floors.
But that doesn’t mean those systems aren’t impacting our lives. They’re already woven into how products are made, the way supply chains work, and how global industries evolve.
Whether that all turns out to be “good” or “bad” for society will depend less on the machines themselves than on the people deciding how they’re used.
This is what makes Ferrero’s corner of the industry so vital.
While others are focused on flashy humanoids, her work continues quietly in the background, steadily changing the way the world actually runs.
To hear from another leader recognized by the IFR for her work in robotics, read my profile of Kateryna Portmann and our conversation on four-legged robots doing dangerous work too risky for humans.
