Chronicling Robots Since 2011
Eight years ago, not even a million dollars went into startups focused exclusively on humanoids. Today, the total amount of private capital for the industry has climbed over $1.4 billion. Just this month, Citi’s leading investment analysts published “The Rise of AI Robots: Physical AI is Coming for You.” In summarizing his report, contributing author … Read more
As my colleague Steve Crowe reported last October, one of the biggest automation stories of the year was the stalling of Cruise after California’s Department of Motor Vehicles suspended its driverless testing license. While Cruise has had many mishaps since the launch of its robotaxi service on the streets of San Francisco in June 2022, … Read more
The ultimate purpose of robotics is to improve the human condition. As organic species, our bodies are vulnerable to damage and disrepair. In the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics,” the entry on “care robots” highlights its societal benefits over countering dystopian fears: “One reason why the issue of care has … Read more
The two biggest societal challenges for the twenty-first century are also the biggest opportunities – automation and climate change. The confluence of these forces of mankind and nature intersect beautifully in the alternative energy market. The epitaph of fossil fuels with its dark cloud burning a hole in the ozone layer is giving way to … Read more