The Trump administration has banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing unacceptable risks to national security and the US economy, with many affected products originating from China.
Chinese firms occupy the top 5 spots in LexisNexis' Patent Asset Index for bipedal walking robots, with US and European presence limited to lower rankings.
The US has banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and certain tech products, citing national security risks, primarily targeting China amid escalating tech rivalry.
Salamanca High School in New York introduces a humanoid robot and AI teaching assistant, sparking criticism from teachers and Native American residents over dehumanization, cultural insensitivity, and privacy concerns.
The South Korean Navy conducted its first combat experiment where a humanoid robot, Pibot, successfully served as a helmsman in simulated scenarios. This initiative, part of a 5.7 billion won project, aims to integrate robotics to address military manpower shortages and build a "smart military."
The US House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions to prohibit the Pentagon from using Chinese-made humanoid robots due to national security and data privacy concerns, while commercial sales remain unaffected.
Humanoid robots successfully performed remote surgery for the first time. The program also features insights from the infinite scroll inventor on social media and a carbon capture solution for cargo ships.
The World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai highlights China's drive for technological self-reliance amid US chip restrictions. Beijing rejects 'trap' claims regarding its open-source AI promotion, aiming to foster global exchanges and ensure AI benefits reach developing nations.
Agility Robotics opened a 60,000 sq ft facility in Fremont, CA, to train its Digit humanoid robots for scaled deployments. The company, already generating revenue with Digit in warehouses for clients like Amazon, is preparing for a reverse-merger to go public, aiming to capitalize on its lead in the humanoid robot market.
Engineers and surgeons at UC San Diego have demonstrated that teleoperated humanoid robots can perform live minimally invasive surgery. In preclinical trials, humanoid robots successfully completed gallbladder removal operations on non-primate mammals, marking a significant step towards integrating these robots into future operating rooms.
Humanoid robots, remotely controlled by surgeons, successfully removed gallbladders from live pigs in a preclinical trial. This human-robot team-up offers a potentially cheaper and more accessible alternative to specialized surgical robots, with applications in rural areas, battlefields, and space.
China anticipates its humanoid robot production to surpass 100,000 units in 2024, driven by advancements in AI, large language models, and AI chips. The AI market in China is projected to reach 1.2 trillion yuan ($180 billion) by 2025, with over 30% of major industrial enterprises integrating AI into manufacturing.
Chinese robotics company Agibot livestreamed six days of its G2 humanoid robots operating on a full tablet production line at Longcheer Technology's factory. The robots produced 17,625 tablets with a 99.99% success rate, demonstrating practical industrial application of embodied AI.
Agility Robotics is set to go public via a SPAC merger valuing the company at $2.5 billion, aiming to raise over $620 million. CEO Peggy Johnson discusses the company's focus on warehouse robots, its proprietary physical AI, and the long road ahead for home robotics.
Chinese start-ups are leveraging manufacturing advantages and government support for 'embodied AI' to develop highly dextrous robotic hands, aiming to transform humanoid robots from novelties into practical tools. This focus addresses the significant engineering challenge of replicating human hand capabilities, which is seen as crucial for unlocking future economic potential amidst an aging workforce.
Chinese robotics company Agibot livestreamed six days of its G2 humanoid robots operating on a full tablet production line at Longcheer Technology. The robots produced 17,625 tablets with a 99.99% success rate, demonstrating practical industrial application of embodied AI.
Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba, has led a $73.58 million funding round in humanoid robotics startup Zeroth. This marks Ant's 12th investment in the sector since early 2025, signaling a significant push into robotics following regulatory hurdles with its IPO.
A Chinese company has launched the U1, a humanoid robot designed for domestic interaction. Available in male and female versions, it features advanced AI, local data storage, and is sold only to adults.
Altus Schools in California has invested $500,000 in two Ameca robots, powered by ChatGPT, to assist teachers and students as tutors, wellness coaches, career guides, and translators. While seen as a futuristic step, the pilot program faces criticism over cost and potential limitations, with ongoing efforts to ensure safety and critical thinking.
Altus Schools in San Diego is piloting two Ameca humanoid robots, powered by ChatGPT, to serve as classroom assistants, wellness coaches, college planners, and translators. The $500,000 experiment aims to study if "physical AI" can boost student engagement and personalize learning, raising questions about cost, effectiveness, and ethics.
South Korea's government and tech giants are investing $1 trillion in memory chip, AI data center, and robotics megaprojects by 2028. This aims to boost global chip supply, develop AI infrastructure, and deploy humanoid robots, despite debates over profits and labor union resistance.
Morgan Stanley has increased its 2024 forecast for China's humanoid robot shipments to 50,000 units, citing accelerating commercial validation, policy support, and supply-chain momentum. The investment bank also raised its 2030 projection to 446,000 units, with full-sized humanoids expected to dominate the market.
Humanoid robotics startup Agility Robotics will go public through a SPAC merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI, valuing the company at $2.5 billion and expected to generate over $620 million in proceeds. The funds will support production of its Digit v5 robot and customer expansion.
Apple supplier Lingyi iTech is seeking to raise up to HK$8.3 billion (US$1.1 billion) in a Hong Kong IPO to fund expansion into AI hardware and humanoid robotics. The Shenzhen-listed firm aims to debut on Friday, diversifying beyond the smartphone market to capture demand in emerging sectors.
