I could see a multi-use robot being used in some instances but I cannot fathom why it would be shaped like a human.

And there's nothing wrong with human shape, it would be hard to design a better one.

So far the only machines that have come even remotely close to being able to fold laundry (and they aren't very good) have humanoid arms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C76osXtpLeM

There are some machines that fold laundry. They don't seem that impressive now. But I imagine if they haven't already - laundry pick-up/delivery services will roll these out.

Think of it as a stepping stone. Like automated cars, Fully automated highways are a ways off where traffic lights are no longer needed, however automated cars that work alongside the rest of the roads are feasible in the near future.

Yes there are better tools, its just a stepping stone to allow change. to force change.

There are bricklaying robots now

I don't think they are used en masse but I think if we do get to the point of some type of brick laying robots being used it will surely be something like this that doesn't have the physical constraints of two arms with limited mobility + nowhere to store bricks

I don't think machines are very close, but bipedal locomotion with human arm like articulation and grasping softish fingers is a reasonable way to get there.

If you can take a restaurant that used to have to have 10 dishwashers and fire 9 of them because a machine works fast - you can keep one guy around to do the tricky stains. Sure is a lot cheaper than buying 5 humanoid dishwashers.