Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to differentiate in vivo or in vitro to practically all cell types of an adult organism. In vivo, pluripotent stem cells exist only transiently in early embryos. However, when explanted the in vitro counterparts of these cells, known as embryonic stem (ES) cells, can be maintained indefinitely in culture in undifferentiated state and used for generation of various mature cell types. While this broad differentiation potential, easy accessibility and possibility for large expansion of ES cells in culture classifies them as a most promising source of cells for regenerative medicine, unresolved ethical concerns and allogeneic nature of human ES cells seriously hampered their therapeutic use. Therefore, the goal of autologous and ethically uncontroversial alternative sources of human pluripotent stem cells has been intensively pursued by a number of laboratories. Here we review the tremendous progress made in recent years in this very dynamic area of research and discuss implications that these new developments may have for biomedical research and regenerative medicine in near future.