Artificial Intelligence

Embodied AI Powers New Generation of Robotic Co-Workers
The general-purpose market could reach $370 billion by 2040, with 50% of that value coming from China

From Kitchen to Front of House, Restaurants Deploy AI Robots
Robots are taking more active roles in both customer-facing and back-kitchen tasks, as restaurants face a perfect storm of challenges that include rising labor and food costs, persistent workforce shortages, and growing consumer demand for efficient service.
Innovation

Hugging Face just launched a $299 robot that could disrupt the entire robotics industry
Hugging Face, the $4.5 billion AI platform that has become the GitHub of machine learning (ML), announced Tuesday the launch of Reachy Mini, a $299 desktop robot designed to bring AI-powered robotics to millions of developers worldwide.
The 11-inch humanoid companion represents the company’s boldest move yet to democratize robotics development and challenge the industry’s traditional closed-source, high-cost model.

Robot performs first realistic surgery without human help
A robot trained on videos of surgeries performed a lengthy phase of a gallbladder removal without human help. The robot operated for the first time on a lifelike patient, and during the operation, responded to and learned from voice commands from the team—like a novice surgeon working with a mentor.

This Futurist Just Said Robots Will Upend Work Within 20 Years
A San Francisco technology think tank concludes the world is about to get more robotic, transforming the global labor market.
Technology

Delivery Robots Move Products at Japan’s Largest Outlet Mall
The program allows online shoppers to buy from stores across 13 different outlet locations

Is Warehouse Robotics' Future Shaped Like a Human?
Humanoid robots have entered the public consciousness and remain at the center of discussions about the future of work in warehouses and factories alike—but they may not be the ultimate form factor for the warehouse automation initiatives of the future, despite the hype.

Diligent Robotics Welcomes 2 to Its Leadership Team
Diligent Robotics, an Austin-based developer of socially intelligent healthcare robots, has announced the appointment of Rashed Haq as chief technology officer and Todd Brugger as chief operating officer.

Deep-learning system teaches soft, bio-inspired robots to move using only a single camera
Conventional robots, like those used in industry and hazardous environments, are easy to model and control, but are too rigid to operate in confined spaces and uneven terrain. Soft, bio-inspired robots are far better at adapting to their environments and maneuvering in otherwise inaccessible places.
Investment

Cobionix raises $3M to build autonomous medical robotics platform
The company develops a robotics platform called Codi, which is designed to deliver diagnostic ultrasound procedures using artificial intelligence-driven autonomy to remote locations. The platform itself is multifunctional and can support numerous different applications, but it will start with ultrasound capabilities.