This systematic review employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to examine the evolution and deployment of robotics, humanoids, drones, and autonomous systems across five critical sectors: energy, agriculture, ocean, healthcare, and desert environments between 2010 and 2025. The review synthesizes a total of 70 peer-reviewed and gray literature sources, with a particular focus on safety incidents, human–artificial intelligence (AI) comparative performance, and ethical considerations. Key contributions include insights from the UN AI Ethics Framework (Ad Hoc Expert Group), the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company AI product development case study in the energy sector, and cutting-edge research from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, including foundation models, embodied AI, and Arabic language AI applications. Findings reveal a rapid progression from narrow industrial robotics to collaborative humanoid systems, with variable safety outcomes across sectors, including physical injuries, operational failures, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Comparative analyses highlight complementarity between human intelligence and AI capabilities, emphasizing human oversight in complex decision-making and ethical deployment. The review identifies gaps in regulatory harmonization, cybersecurity preparedness, and workforce transformation. Recommendations emphasize responsible AI development, robust governance frameworks, cross-sectoral safety standards, and investment in human–AI collaboration training. The study positions the integration of AI and human intelligence as the optimal pathway forward, promoting safe, ethical, and sustainable technological adoption across diverse industrial and environmental contexts.