robotics

China's innovation ecosystem saw a resurgence with 67 new unicorn start-ups in the first half of 2026, the highest increase in almost five years, driven by AI and robotics. The growth averages one new unicorn every three days, according to a report by ITJuzi.

Odisha Governor Hari Babu advised students at RVR & JC College of Engineering to update their knowledge with rapid technological advancements and explore opportunities in emerging fields such as AI, data science, robotics, and quantum technology.

Sodexo, a foodservice giant, is using AI and robotics to streamline kitchen operations, including menu creation and staffing. Alice Guéhennec, Sodexo's chief tech, data, and digital officer, leads these efforts with a 500 million euro annual tech budget. The company's 'Menu AI' tool automates menu design, reducing planning time from weeks to a single day.

Japan aims to adopt 10 million robots by 2040, with some providing medical care and working in food manufacturing. The initiative, led by Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa, involves AI-powered robots and a new collaboration between SoftBank, NEC, Sony Group, Honda, and potentially Fujitsu and Rakuten under the organization 'Noetra'.

The 2026 COMPUTEX event in Taipei, Taiwan, featured Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang showcasing next-generation AI chips and robotics. The trade show highlighted Taiwan's role as a leading hub for semiconductor and AI supply chain innovation.

Flexion Robotics, a startup founded by ex-Nvidia engineers, has developed a method to train robots for useful work. The company's humanoid robot is described as a competent office intern.

Korean stocks rebounded as Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. announced large-scale investments in memory chips, data centers, and robotics. The plan was unveiled alongside South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung during a news conference at the presidential Blue House.

Anderson from Framework claims that the next major development for cryptocurrency involves financing artificial intelligence and robotics. The focus shifts from cryptocurrency itself to its role in funding emerging technologies.

Framework Ventures has raised $400 million for its fourth fund, expanding investments into AI, robotics, and energy while continuing crypto investments.

Framework Ventures raised $400 million for its fourth fund focused on crypto, AI, and robotics. The firm promoted Rajiv Patel-O'Connor to general partner as part of its expansion beyond traditional crypto investments.

A Shenzhen-based supercomputer named LineShine was declared the world's fastest, surpassing California's El Capitan by 20% in speed. Unlike most supercomputers, LineShine uses standard microprocessors instead of specialized GPUs, marking China's first such achievement since 2017 and intensifying the transpacific tech rivalry.

The largest robotics and artificial intelligence show in North America is taking place in Chicago this week. The event highlights advancements in robotics and AI technologies.

Apple supplier Lingyi iTech seeks to raise up to US$1.1 billion via a Hong Kong IPO to fund expansion into AI hardware and humanoid robotics. The company, listed in Shenzhen, plans to debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange with an offering of 811.8 million shares at HK$10.18 each.

LSU and Hyundai Steel have formed a research partnership to support Hyundai's $5.8 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish, focusing on advancements in metallurgy, materials science, energy, robotics, automation, and environmental engineering. The agreement aims to build a skilled workforce pipeline and facilitate long-term applied research opportunities for LSU while providing Hyundai access to research infrastructure and innovation.

Ayanna Howard, a noted robotics expert, discusses the need for better communication to the public on the value of basic science.

The Abu Dhabi government is accelerating partnerships with 22 Chinese firms, including Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL), to leverage technologies in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and robotics for a greener economy, according to its energy chief.

Abu Dhabi is accelerating its adoption of Chinese technologies in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and robotics to expand its green economy, according to its energy chief. The Abu Dhabi department of energy reported ongoing discussions with 22 Chinese firms, including Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL), during a recent visit to Shanghai, aiming to strengthen ties with China.

Tether led a $1.4 billion funding round in Neura, a German robotics company. The investment highlights significant financial backing for Neura's robotics initiatives.

A German humanoid robotics startup secured $1.4 billion in funding from Amazon, Nvidia, and Tether. This investment marks the largest funding round ever for a full-stack robotics company.

Tether is leading a $1.4 billion investment in robotics firm Neura and will integrate a crypto wallet into its ecosystem. The company will deploy technology within Neura's robotics ecosystem.

MIT researchers developed a wristband using ultrasound and AI to capture human hand gestures, enabling robots to mimic dexterous movements for tasks like housework and surgery. The device tracks muscle and tendon activity, achieving precise gesture replication within 120 milliseconds and supporting wireless operation.

JP Morgan revised its Tesla stock assessment from bearish to positive, tripling the price target to $475. The new analysis highlights Tesla's robotics and autonomous driving potential as growth areas, moving away from concerns about its slowing EV business.

The article discusses the gap between humanoid robot demonstrations and their real-world reliability, noting that human tendencies to anthropomorphize robots can lead to misleading assumptions. Jonathan Hurst, cofounder of Agility Robotics, highlights how startups may exploit these assumptions to secure funding.

A Chinese robotics start-up, Spirit AI, outperformed US-based Nvidia on a global AI ranking, highlighting intensifying tech competition between China and the US in embodied AI for robotics. Nvidia recently launched its Cosmos 3 model to advance physical AI capabilities, but Spirit AI's foundation model drew significant attention.

A robotics firm backed by BYD, PaXini, is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. The company showcased a humanoid robot at the Hannover Messe 2026 trade fair in Germany.

Meituan is set to gain a significant financial windfall from investments in frontier tech, including Zhipu AI, despite reporting a third consecutive quarterly adjusted net loss of 4.97 billion yuan (US$735 million). The company's bets on AI and robotics are highlighted as a potential boost amid financial challenges.

Shift, a startup focused on AI training data, offers free home cleaning services to train future robots. The initiative aims to gather real-world data for robotic development.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has revamped its Tech 100 Index by adding seven technology-focused companies and removing seven others to better reflect the rise of artificial intelligence stocks. The changes, effective June 15, increase exposure to sectors like autonomous driving, robotics, enterprise software, and optical communications.

Alibaba and Tencent are leading Chinese tech companies transitioning from chatbots to embodied AI in robotics. Alibaba's Qwen3.7-Max model introduces 'tool-calling' capabilities, enabling AI to control robots by orchestrating physical actions like navigation.

A robot named Lightning broke the human world record at Beijing’s half marathon, sparking discussions about AI-powered robots entering everyday life. China leads in robotics advancements, with a government pledge to invest over £100bn in the field over 20 years. Experts like Amy Hawkins and Nathan Lepora discuss how robots are evolving toward human-like dexterity and practical applications.

Human Archive, a startup founded by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University, is leveraging India's gig economy to collect real-world physical training data for AI and robotics. Gig workers in India are paid to wear camera-equipped caps and sensor devices to gather this data, which is in high demand among AI and robotics labs.

Amazon opened a robotics facility in Virginia Beach. Other headlines include a housing shortage in Southwest Virginia and a drowning prevention initiative.

China's AI start-ups received US$16.2 billion in funding during Q1, nearly tripling year-over-year as investors focused on large language models and robotics. This 185% surge reflects growing confidence in China's technology ecosystem and emerging AI sectors.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, is driving momentum in Asia's technology sector with his vision for artificial intelligence and robotics. The article highlights Huang's influence on the regional tech landscape through Nvidia's innovations in AI and robotic technologies.

A critical flaw in an OT robot operating system allows unauthenticated attackers to gain remote access and control, causing significant disruption. The vulnerability is a command injection flaw that can be exploited remotely. This poses a significant risk to robotic systems and their environments.

Donald Trump's visit to China represents a significant soft-power victory for Beijing, allowing the country to showcase its technological advancements in electric vehicles, robotics, and clean energy to the world. China is leveraging the summit to reshape its global image, combat negative narratives, and boost international tourism by highlighting its pandemic recovery and innovations.

Meta acquired Assured Robot Intelligence, a humanoid robotics startup, to enhance its AI models for robots. The move aims to strengthen Meta's capabilities in humanoid AI development.

Japan Airlines is deploying humanoid robots to handle baggage loading and unloading on flights, marking a technological advancement in the aviation industry. The initiative highlights the integration of AI and robotics in operational processes.

AI world models trained on physical environment data could enhance real-world capabilities in robotics. The article highlights advancements in AI research published in Nature.

Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) developed Kinematic Intelligence, a robotic framework that enables seamless transfer of skills between robots, similar to syncing data between smartphones. This system addresses the challenge of retraining robots when hardware is upgraded, as described in a recent Science Robotics paper.