Simplexity Robotics, an embodied AI startup founded less than a year ago, has delivered its first batch of 100 i7 Pro robots across multiple industrial and logistics scenarios, including CNC operations at Leaderdrive’s facility and optical module and flexible PCB production lines serving AI infrastructure manufacturing.
Rémi Cadene, who developed Tesla’s Optimus AI from scratch and pioneered LeRobot at Hugging Face, has unveiled an early prototype of Northstar, UMA’s humanoid robot, targeting European manufacturing plants, logistics warehouses, and homes, with 50 potential customer conversations already underway.
CYBERDYNE and Pegasus Tech Ventures have launched a JPY 10 billion ($60 million) corporate venture capital fund to invest in startups developing robotics, physical AI, healthcare, and intelligent systems, with CYBERDYNE as the sole limited partner and Pegasus managing the fund as general partner.
Google DeepMind has launched a three-month robotics accelerator program for early-stage European startups, selecting 15 companies spanning industrial automation, healthcare robotics, waste sorting, ocean autonomy, and neurosurgery for mentorship and access to Gemini robotics models.
A San Francisco robotics startup valued at $2 billion is facing a lawsuit from an Airbnb host who alleges employees secretly tested household robots in his rental property across an 11-night stay, leaving it extensively damaged without disclosing the commercial purpose of the booking.
Beijing-based Linkerbot, which claims over 80% of the global market for high-degree-of-freedom robotic hands, is targeting a $6 billion valuation in its next funding round, double the $3 billion valuation established in a Series B+ round closed last week.
Meta has acquired Assured Robot Intelligence, a humanoid robotics startup building foundation models for robot control and self-learning, with the founding team joining Meta’s Superintelligence Labs research division.
Shenzhen-based Kinetix AI has unveiled KAI, a full-sized humanoid robot with 115 degrees of freedom, a 36-DoF dexterous hand, and a full-body tactile skin system with 18,000 sensors, targeting service and home assistance applications at a sub-$40,000 price point.
SusHi Tech Tokyo, Asia’s largest startup convention, opened Monday at Tokyo Big Sight with 770 exhibitions across AI, robotics, resilience, and entertainment, targeting 10,000 business negotiations over three days.
Accenture Ventures has invested in General Robotics, whose GRID platform connects robots from multiple manufacturers under a single AI intelligence layer, targeting scaled automation in factories and warehouses.
LG CNS has partnered with Silicon Valley robotics startups to strengthen its physical AI capabilities, combining robot foundation models with new hardware platforms.
Startup Icarus Robotics is preparing to test autonomous free-flying robots aboard the ISS, aiming to automate routine tasks in space operations.
San José Mineta International Airport has launched a pilot program using an AI-powered humanoid robot to greet passengers, answer questions and provide real-time multilingual support.
German humanoid robotics startup Neura Robotics is reportedly seeking around €1 billion in new funding at a €4 billion valuation, with backing from Amazon and a Qatari investor highlighting rising global interest in physical AI.
Amazon has acquired startup Fauna Robotics, maker of the small humanoid robot Sprout, as the company broadens its push into robotics beyond warehouses and into homes and delivery.