The State of Louisiana and Houston-based robotics company Persona AI have agreed to launch a humanoid pilot program at a local steel fabrication plant.
This pioneering partnership between the state and private tech company was formalized through a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 22.
The pilot initiative will be held at SSE Steel Fabrication’s facility in the coastal community of St. Bernard Parish. It will focus on assessing the capabilities of Persona AI’s humanoid robots in a real-world industrial setting. These robots have been designed to use human tools and navigate their way through uneven, filthy terrain.
Through the pilot, the companies and state authorities will collect data on movements and tasks they perform. Welding and steel fabrication will be key focuses for the humanoids. The aim is to improve the robots’ ability to safely collaborate with skilled human workers and improve their perception and mobility.
Louisiana needs help with dirty work
As specified by Persona AI, the partnership will address Louisiana’s dire labour shortage in 4D jobs (dull, dirty, dangerous and declining). Success with this goal will inherently make life safer for state residents. It would enable workers to focus on higher-value tasks like supervision and quality control.
State authorities have emphasized safety gains, productivity boosts and improved sustainability as incentive for pursuing the endeavour. Louisiana Economic Development leader Josh Fleig described it as a means to create pathways to high-skill, higher-paying careers.
The initiative positions Louisiana as a domestic testing ground for embodied AI, thereby potentially attracting investments and bolstering the state’s manufacturing infrastructure.
“Welders, be afraid! Humanoids are coming for your jobs,” commented Jacek Smoluch, Factory Automation Marketing Coordinator at Mitsubishi Electric FA Poland. “Forging shops, steel, noise, dust, heat. This will be a brutal, but absolutely necessary test for them.”
Although it is innovative, it is not the first time an American state has partnered with a private robotics firm. Others like Pennsylvania, California, Nebraska and Texas have partnered with U.S. robotics companies to advance fields such as agriculture and manufacturing automation in recent years as well.
Read more: DoorDash’s ‘Dot’ delivery robot brings toothpaste and tacos to Arizona customers
Persona AI’s CEO brings robotics expertise from NASA
Founders established the Texas-based robotics firm in 2024 to build high-grade robots for industrial applications like shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing. The company aims to enhance robotic efficiency in environments that have not historically suited automation.
Chief Executive Officer, Nicolaus Radford, has over 15 years of experience from NASA’s Dexterous Robotics Lab. There, he served as a principal investigator. He also founded Nauticus Robotics Inc (NASDAQ: KITT).
Recent notable accomplishments of Persona AI highlight considerable growth. In May last year, Persona raised US$27 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by Unity Growth and Tides Ventures. Mirae Asset Group and Embedded Ventures were notable investors.
Additionally, the robotics company signed a partnership agreement with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd (KRX: 329180) that month for future deployment of humanoid welding robots in shipyards. Initial deliveries are expected by the end of this year.
First look at Persona AI's Gen1 humanoid robot and a sneak peek at their tendon-driven hand.
In 2025, the company closed $42M in pre-seed funding and signed an agreement with HD Hyundai subsidiaries to develop and deploy humanoids for shipyard welding tasks.
The startup was… pic.twitter.com/Th3IUmVhPS
— The Humanoid Hub (@TheHumanoidHub) December 31, 2025
Read more: Nauticus Robotics shuffles finances, pursues deep sea mining
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