Norwegian startup 1X Technologies recently announced significant advancements in developing AI-based world models for robots. Simply put, these models act as virtual testing grounds for robots, allowing them to test and improve in various scenarios without the need for real-world testing. 1X believes this is key to solving the 'robotics challenge' — how to reliably evaluate robots trained for multiple tasks in ever-changing environments.

Noted robotics expert David Hanson has joined WorkFar Robotics as Chief Executive Advisor, focusing on innovations in human-robot collaboration technology. WorkFar is dedicated to providing intelligent humanoid robot solutions for the warehousing and manufacturing industries, aimed at addressing labor shortages. Hanson, along with his team, developed the 'Syntro' synthetic robot, which combines artificial intelligence with remote human control technology to ensure safe operation in high-risk tasks. Additionally, Hanson plans to send his created robot 'Sophia' to Mars.

Amazon has announced the acquisition of a non-exclusive license from robotics startup Covariant and has absorbed approximately a quarter of its workforce, aiming to accelerate innovation in the automation field and enhance the safety and adaptability of robots. The founding team of Covariant will join Amazon's AI and robotics team, marking a further enhancement of Amazon's automation capabilities on top of the 750,000 robots already deployed in its logistics centers. Covariant will continue to support its existing customers and develop warehousing automation technology.

Amazon has announced the hiring of the core team from robotics startup Covariant, comprising about a quarter of its staff, and has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement to use Covariant's robotic foundation models. This move represents Amazon's strategic positioning in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics, aiming to advance foundational research in AI and robotics technology and apply it to Amazon's existing robotic systems, providing greater practical value to customers. Through a 'reverse acquisition' strategy, Amazon gains new technologies while avoiding a direct acquisition of the startup.

LeRobot is an open-source project released by HuggingFace that provides a comprehensive guide aimed at simplifying the entry barriers for AI-driven robotics technology, supporting the open-source ecosystem in the robotics field. The guide is created by LeRobot co-founder Remi Cadene and targets a broad audience, aiming to popularize the application of AI in robotics and encourage innovation. Based on the open-source robotics kit Koch v1.1, the guide covers the entire process of assembling, configuring, and training AI-controlled robots, focusing on two 6-degree-of-freedom robotic arms.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence technology has made the AI industry a popular choice for recent graduates. Job seekers need not only professional skills but also practical experience through internships and volunteer projects, as well as personal portfolios and recommendation letters to enhance their competitiveness. In 2024, the AI industry offers numerous high-paying positions for recent graduates, including Robotics Engineer, Data Scientist, and Data Analyst, with salaries ranging from $100,000 to $160,000. The high salaries in the AI field are primarily driven by market demand, scarcity of specialized knowledge, and business needs.

He Xiaopeng, chairman of Xpeng Motors, recently showcased the company's latest advancements in robotics technology through a video. He announced that Xpeng Motors is no longer limited to development in the Internet sector, and its technology has been successfully applied to the real-world 'hand replacement' robots.

The 'Wolf Ranch' community in Georgetown, Texas, is utilizing the giant 3D printer Vulcan to construct homes, with over a quarter of the houses already sold. Developer ICON is collaborating with housing company Lennar to build 100 homes through this technology, with completion expected by summer. These 3D printed homes are priced between $450,000 and $600,000, utilizing hybrid materials for construction, with walls designed to be sturdy, energy-efficient, and resistant to extreme weather. The modern ranch-style design is provided by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

PepsiCo's Chief Operating Officer Greg Lyon recently stated that the changes the company has experienced in the past three years are greater than in the previous 31 years he has worked there. This shift is largely driven by a significant change in consumer shopping habits, particularly after the pandemic, with people increasingly leaning towards online purchases of food and beverages.

The MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has demonstrated an innovative method for training home robots by utilizing iPhone scans of users' home environments, uploading the data to a simulated environment for training. This method aims to address the limitations of traditional robot training in adapting to complex home layouts, lighting, and object placement. Through simulated training, robots can practice millions of times in a virtual world without any real-world loss, significantly enhancing their adaptability. The construction of the environmental database not only strengthens the robots' performance in known environments but also prepares them to face...

Simple AI-driven robots have the potential to revolutionize material flow in warehouses. Chris Walti, former head of Tesla's Optimus project, and Ahmad Baitalmal, a former Rivian executive, have co-founded Mytra, a startup focused on warehouse automation. Mytra aims to tackle the challenging issue of warehouse material flow through a simple, modular 3D robotic system.Walti stated, "We've taken a distinctly different approach, reducing the number of parts and shifting the focus from hardware to s

Following the layoff turbulence earlier this year, Tesla is now actively expanding its workforce, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics. Over the past few weeks, the company has posted around 800 new positions on its recruitment page, signaling a shift in strategic focus.This recruitment drive is primarily focused on Tesla's robotics and AI departments. New hires will mainly be dedicated to developing autonomous driving software, contributing to Tesla's Autopilot and

Skild AI recently announced a $300 million funding round, aiming to create a general artificial intelligence system known as the 'Robot Brain'. This startup, originated from Carnegie Mellon University, is focused on developing intelligent systems that can be adapted to various machines and robotic devices. The leaders of this round of funding include Jeff Bezos through his venture company Bezos Explorations, SoftBank Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Coatue. Following this round of funding

U.S. company Skild AI, dedicated to building general-purpose robotic intelligence, has emerged from its stealth mode and successfully secured a $300 million Series A round of funding. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Skild AI was founded in 2023 by graduates of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Abhinav Gupta and Deepak Pathak, with Deepak serving as the CEO of Skild.Image Source Note: The image is generated by AI, provided by image authorization service Midjourney With a current valu

Nvidia provides strong support for robotic innovation through projects like Isaac and Jetson. The GR00T project aims to create a unified platform for robot manufacturers, involving several well-known companies. Nvidia has launched the Jetson Thor hardware to simplify the design and integration of humanoid robots. The GTC robotics announcements include the Isaac Manipulator and Isaac Perceptor projects. Nvidia faces a collective lawsuit from writers, accusing the company of using copyrighted works for AI training without permission.

Google DeepMind and Nvidia have made significant moves in the field of robotics. Jim Fan and Yuke Zhu have collaborated to establish the GEAR research group, which focuses on robotics as a key direction for future development. Google DeepMind has proposed human-robot interaction through Markov decision processes. GEAR showcased several interesting projects, such as Eureka and Voyager. Voyager is the first learning agent to play Minecraft contextually. Jim Fan believes the agent...

The Tesla mobile app has added a feature for an AI chat assistant named 'Tesla Assistant Beta'. Musk stated that Tesla's long-term value will derive from AI and robotics.

In 2024, 1X has become the focus of attention in the technology industry for advancing the humanoid robotics field. Tech giants like Tesla, Apptronik, and Figure have entered the competitive humanoid robotics space. 1X partnered with OpenAI to secure $23.5 million in funding, followed by a $100 million Series B round. 1X's core product, NEO, aims to address the global labor shortage, facing both technological and conceptual challenges. The company emphasizes a human-centered approach, committed to rewarding the success of its team members.

The U.S. is about to witness a revolution in the food industry as CaliExpress becomes the world's first fully robotic and AI-operated restaurant. Located in Pasadena, California, it utilizes Miso Robotics' burger-making robots and Flippy for ordering and cooking. Customers will experience high-tech cooking, with robotic arms and sensor systems accurately preparing delicious burgers and fries. PopID stands out by completing orders through facial recognition, building profiles that include photos, loyalty data, and payment information. Miso Robotics strong.

Google DeepMind's GNoME system predicts 400,000 stable substances, and the A-Lab autonomous system successfully synthesizes these materials in the lab. GNoME proposes 2.2 million potential compounds, with A-Lab utilizing the latest robotic technology to produce 41 new inorganic materials in just 18 days. This technological breakthrough is expected to accelerate the discovery of materials in clean energy, electronics, and other fields, marking a new chapter for AI in scientific discovery. The A-Lab team successfully improved the synthesis process through an active learning algorithm, producing 41 new materials.