Sophie Foster
Updated 19 May 2026, 4:47am
First published 19 May 2026, 4:45am
Cherie Barber, Australia’s renovation queen has launched a world-first AI humanoid robot tradie apprentice in jer mew project.
Aussie reno queen Cherie Barber has unleashed a ‘world-first’ experiment – a humanoid robot apprentice learning the ropes from tradies on her next build… smokos included.
The project introduces an AI-powered humanoid robot, nicknamed “Tinnie” onto an active residential construction site as part of a broader experiment into how robotics could function in real-world renovations.
“The future is definitely here,” Ms Barber said. “Tinnie is the world’s first digitally advanced AI humanoid robot to set foot on a residential renovation site.”
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Aussie reno queen Cherie Barber is unveiling an advanced humanoid robot as apprentice on her next project The Farmhouse.
The robot has been placed in the middle of her live farmhouse rebuild where conditions will be unpredictable and constantly changing – but Ms Barber was quick to assure everyone it would not replace real tradies.
“Tinnie’s not here to replace humans, skilled tradies or pick up a drill,” she said.
The job description is basically digital site assistant – helping with relevant information and interaction, welcoming tradies, running site inductions, referencing building codes, checking product specifications and supporting design decisions, all while learning how a real build operates.
But the experiment will also test how Tinnie adapts to tradie behaviour and daily life in a busy construction project, with the big question being whether a robot can survive a real Aussie reno jobsite – or crack under the pressure of mud, mayhem and smoko banter.
Cherie Barber was blown away by how advanced Tinnie was.
How will Tinnie cope with smokos is one of the questions on Ms Barber’s mind.
Developed in collaboration with robotics company Unitree Robotics, Tinnie has been created after months of planning, testing and preparation between Ms Barber, her partner Matt Hume and the robotics team.
The couple travelled to China to meet the developers behind the technology and observe the humanoid robot before it was introduced into the Australian renovation project.
“Seeing Tinnie up close was surreal,” Ms Barber said. “The technology is impressive – I was blown away by how advanced it is.”
Ms Barber’s farmhouse project involves the transformation of a large rural property into a modern estate, with plans including sustainable living elements such as food production and self-sufficiency features.
The build is being documented across social media platforms including YouTube and Instagram, alongside a planned television series set for release in 2027.
Ms Barber said the broader goal is to explore how robotics and construction could intersect in future, positioning AI as a supportive tool within the industry rather than a replacement for human workers.
Ms Barber is recording the entire process to roll out as a TV show but will also be tracking progress across all her socials and YouTube.
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