AI-powered robots

Humxn Research Labs has announced plans to spend $50 million acquiring data on skilled trades, farming, and manufacturing to train AI-powered robots. The startup is paying for recordings and demonstrations of human workers performing hands-on tasks, betting that real-world labor data is the key bottleneck for robotics. The move highlights a growing scramble among robotics firms for high-quality physical-world training data as generative AI models increasingly move into hardware.

An $89,000 AI-powered robot has been deployed in a New York City park, where it is observing and learning from human interactions. The long-term aim is for such robots to take on caregiving roles, including working as babysitters. The deployment has drawn attention to how autonomous machines are being tested in public spaces and what their growing presence could mean for everyday life.

Researchers at Binghamton University warn that AI-powered robots could be manipulated by hidden trigger words or phrases embedded in their systems, causing them to behave dangerously without operators noticing. The team says such backdoor attacks could be exploited to subvert robots in homes, factories or hospitals, and they have developed a defense method to detect and neutralize these hidden triggers before harm occurs.

Teradyne Robotics has announced a partnership with German AI startup Sereact aimed at scaling physical AI solutions for the retail and logistics industries. The collaboration pairs Teradyne's robotics hardware with Sereact's AI-driven manipulation software, with the goal of enabling robots to handle a wider range of tasks in warehouses and stores. Details on financial terms and rollout timelines were not included in the initial announcement.

China's garment manufacturing is being reshaped by AI-powered robots working with speed, precision and continuous efficiency, according to widely shared commentary online. Observers say the shift marks a new era for Chinese factories, with automated systems already in operation rather than a future promise. The trend fuels discussion about automation's growing role in global manufacturing and its impact on the apparel industry and factory jobs.

An AI lab is offering free plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, air duct cleaning and carpet cleaning across three US cities, with technicians wearing sensors that record video of repair work. The footage is collected to train AI-powered robots in real-world manual tasks. Readers are debating whether the trade-off of recorded in-home work for free services is fair.

An $89,000 AI-powered robot has been released in a New York City park to observe and learn human behavior, according to the New York Post. The deployment is drawing attention as a real-world test of robotics in public spaces, raising questions about how machines gather data from people in everyday environments.

Researchers at Binghamton University are warning that secret trigger words, or backdoor phrases, could be used to manipulate AI-powered robots into acting dangerously, and they have developed a defense against such attacks. The work highlights growing concern that embodied AI systems running on large language models could be exploited through hidden commands embedded in their training data or instructions.

At the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, robotics firm JAKA Robotics reported that AI-powered systems are moving from demonstrations into real production lines. At an auto parts plant, bin cycle times fell from 105 seconds to 28 seconds, and deployment time was cut from 12 months to 57 days, a sign that industrial AI adoption in China is accelerating beyond pilot projects.

The US Navy has expanded its robot ship program, with the deal quadrupling in size as part of an effort to 'outsmart' China using artificial intelligence at sea. The move signals Washington's growing investment in unmanned vessels and AI-driven naval capabilities amid intensifying military competition with Beijing in the Pacific.

BlackBerry, having long abandoned its smartphone business and wound down its automotive ambitions, is now positioning itself as a software provider for AI-powered robots. The company is betting that its security and embedded software expertise, notably the QNX platform, can make it a key player inside the emerging robotics industry.

Tokio Marine has become the first non-life insurer in Japan to offer coverage for AI-enabled robots. The move reflects insurers adapting to the spread of autonomous and AI-driven machines in workplaces and public spaces. It is likely to prompt other Japanese insurers to consider similar products as robotics adoption accelerates.

An AI-powered robot is now moving through the aisles of a California grocery store, according to a local news report from Patch. The story has drawn attention as retailers increasingly test automation for tasks like inventory scanning and shelf monitoring. Coverage so far focuses on the novelty of a robot operating among shoppers in a everyday supermarket setting, with no details released yet about the store's name or the technology's specific function.

A new AI-powered security system for robots has been reported to block hidden trigger attacks, where malicious commands are embedded in inputs to make robots behave unexpectedly. The approach, covered by Open Source For You, is being discussed in the context of growing concerns about safety and adversarial threats to autonomous machines as robots spread into public and industrial spaces.

NVIDIA, Teradyne and robotics startup Sereact are working together to advance physical AI, bringing AI-driven perception and decision-making into real-world industrial robots. The collaboration focuses on scaling robotic automation in manufacturing and warehousing, combining NVIDIA's AI computing platforms with Teradyne's robotics portfolio and Sereact's AI software for gripper and manipulation systems.

Bear Robotics has launched KINO-2, a new robot developed through an engineering collaboration with NVIDIA. Announced via press release, the launch pairs Bear Robotics' service robotics work with NVIDIA's computing technology, drawing attention from the robotics industry as companies increasingly team up with chipmakers to advance AI-powered robots.

Researchers have developed a defense against secret trigger words that could make AI-powered robots behave dangerously. The concern is that hidden phrases embedded in instructions could override safety controls in robots that rely on large language models, causing them to take harmful actions. The new work aims to detect and block such attacks before a robot acts on malicious commands.

HD Hyundai Robotics has introduced an AI-powered robot featuring human-like arms, according to Korean media reports. The unveiling highlights the company's push into advanced robotics, combining artificial intelligence with an articulated, human-proportioned upper body. Details on specifications, intended applications and commercial availability have not yet been widely reported, but the announcement is drawing attention in the global robotics sector.

The US Navy has expanded its contract with Gecko Robotics, a company that uses AI and robots to inspect ships and infrastructure, raising its value to $300 million. The deal signals growing Pentagon investment in automated maintenance technology to keep the fleet ready, and has drawn attention across defense and robotics sectors.

Chinese imaging technology companies DJI, Insta360, Qiyuan and Xunying are increasing investment in AI-powered imaging, according to a 36Kr report. The discussion frames advanced photography and vision capabilities as a foundational requirement for embodied intelligence, arguing that robots without strong perception and imaging systems cannot qualify as truly capable embodied AI.