Articles by Greg Bock
Zap Surgical Raises $36M in Funding to Scale Non-Invasive Robotic Brain Surgery
Insider Brief Zap Surgical Systems raised $36 million in financing led by Catalio Capital Management to expand production and deployment of its ZAP-X robotic radiosurgery platform, with strategic partner Baheal also participating. Zap said it recently shipped its 50th ZAP-X system and has treated nearly 10,000 patients worldwide, while the new funding will support broader deployment across hospitals and physician-led practices and increased manufacturing capacity.
The Week Ahead in AI: Anthropic Commits to New Public Fund, ‘Small AI’ for Developing Countries, AI’s Massive Debt, Plus Upcoming Earnings from IBM, Meta & More
Welcome to AI Insider’s The Week Ahead in AI. See the key developments and events we’re watching Oct. 18-24. The Guardian reported that the World Bank is urging developing countries to build “small AI” models that can run on mobile phones with limited connectivity and in local languages, arguing that specialized systems could accelerate development in areas such as agriculture, healthcare and public services.
Promise Robotics Partners with D.R. Horton for Robotic Homebuilding Initiative
Promise Robotics has entered into a multi-year agreement with D.R. Horton to utilize its Factory-as-a-Service platform for the construction of over 1,250 homes. This partnership marks a significant milestone as D.R. Horton becomes the first major U.S. homebuilder to adopt this innovative production model. The collaboration is crucial as it addresses the ongoing challenges in the homebuilding sector, including labor shortages and rising costs.
AiMOGA to Launch Global Pre-Orders for Mobo Humanoid Robot at 2026 Summit
AiMOGA Robotics is set to open global pre-orders for Mobo, its first consumer home companion humanoid robot, during the 2026 Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China, from October 19 to 23. Mobo utilizes AiMOGA’s MoAgent system, featuring 22 degrees of freedom for movement and advanced capabilities such as spatial perception and object recognition.
Canada’s Promise Robotics Signs Multi-Year Deal With US Homebuilder DR Horton for Robotic Homebuilding
Insider Brief Promise Robotics has signed a multi-year agreement with D.R. Horton to use its Factory-as-a-Service platform to support production of more than 1,250 homes, marking its first deal with a major U.S. homebuilder. The platform converts existing home designs into a coordinated process spanning AI-generated production plans, robotic manufacturing, factory operations and onsite installation without requiring builders to operate their own automated factories.
AiMOGA to Open Global Pre-Orders for Mobo Home Humanoid Robot
Insider Brief AiMOGA Robotics plans to open global pre-orders for Mobo, its first consumer home-companion humanoid robot, at the 2026 Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China. Mobo uses AiMOGA’s MoAgent system and combines spatial perception, object recognition, multimodal interaction, obstacle avoidance and memory, with 22 degrees of freedom for movement and gestures.
Waymo to Launch Fully Autonomous Robotaxi Service in Toronto by 2028
Waymo has announced plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Toronto in 2028, marking its first entry into the Canadian market. The company will begin mapping and testing in the city shortly, partnering with Element Fleet Management to support fleet operations and create hundreds of jobs in various roles. This expansion is significant as it highlights Waymo's commitment to enhancing mobility and safety in urban environments.
Pentagon Expands Investment in Autonomous Systems, Drones, and AI-Piloted Aircraft
The U.S. Department of Defense is significantly increasing its investment in autonomous systems, with recent contracts awarded to various companies for drone production and AI-piloted aircraft. Notably, Orqa U.S. secured a $38 million contract for the Drone Dominance Gauntlet II program, while Shield AI received a $150 million modification for its X-BAT program, raising total commitments to $400 million.
Waymo Plans Toronto Robotaxi Launch in 2028
Insider Brief Waymo plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Toronto in 2028, marking its first expansion into Canada, with mapping and manually supervised testing beginning in the coming days. The company is partnering with Element Fleet Management to support fleet operations and expects the expansion to create hundreds of jobs in areas including maintenance, validation driving, customer service and other operational roles.
Shimizu Corporation Partners with Noble Machines to Create Humanoid Robots for Construction Tasks
Shimizu Corporation has invested in Noble Machines to collaborate on developing humanoid robots for construction applications. The initial focus will be on tasks such as material transport, site navigation, and patrols. Shimizu aims to leverage its BIM/CIM data and construction expertise for virtual simulations by the end of this year, with physical robot tests planned for next spring.
Nvidia Enhances Automated Driving Collaborations with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Cars
Nvidia is expanding its partnerships with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Cars to integrate its Hyperion compute and sensor architecture, Alpamayo driving software, and Halos safety technology into future automated driving systems. Mercedes-Benz plans to utilize Nvidia's technology alongside its MB.OS platform for various driving applications, including SAE Level 4 automation.
Multiverse Computing Launches Comet 60B
Insider Brief Multiverse Computing has launched Comet 60B, an open-source multimodal AI model that cuts Nvidia Nemotron 3.5 Super VL from 120 billion to 60 billion total parameters while retaining text, image and video support and the same 12 billion active parameters.
Defense Physical AI Roundup: Pentagon Writing Checks for Autonomous Systems, Drones & AI-Piloted Aircraft, Plus Latest in UVG Systems
Insider Brief U.S. defense programs are expanding autonomous systems across air and ground platforms, with recent developments spanning drone production, AI-piloted aircraft, robotic vehicle controls and mobile counter-drone systems.
Japan’s Shimizu Invests in Noble Machines to Develop Humanoid Robots for Construction
Insider Brief Shimizu Corporation has invested in Noble Machines and launched a collaboration to develop humanoid robots for construction sites, with initial applications including material transport, site navigation and patrols. Shimizu plans to use its BIM/CIM data and construction expertise in virtual simulations beginning by year-end, followed by tests with physical robots at actual construction sites starting next spring.
Nvidia Expands Automated Driving Partnerships With Mercedes-Benz, Volvo Cars
Insider Brief Nvidia is expanding separate partnerships with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Cars to bring its Hyperion compute and sensor architecture, Alpamayo driving software and Halos safety technology into future automated-driving systems. Mercedes-Benz plans to combine Nvidia’s stack with its MB.OS platform for urban point-to-point assistance, automated parking, active safety and future SAE Level 4 applications, while also using Nvidia technology in engineering simulation and manufacturing.
Fincantieri to Invest Nearly $100 Million in Robotics and AI for Shipyards by 2030
Fincantieri has announced plans to invest nearly $100 million by 2030 to enhance robotics, physical AI, and automation across its 13 shipyards as part of the BOOST² initiative. This program aims to transition from technology scouting to broader deployment, focusing on collaborative robotics, digital twins, and automated industrial equipment. The investment is crucial for improving efficiency and safety in shipbuilding, with over 450 employees involved in the initiative.
RoboParty Unveils Open-Source RP1 Humanoid Robot for Research and Development
RoboParty has introduced the RP1, a full-stack open-source humanoid robot aimed at advancing robotics research and embodied AI development. The RP1 is available in standard and Pro versions, featuring 24 and 30 actuated degrees of freedom, respectively, and supports various modular hardware configurations and advanced control systems.
Origin Secures $20 Million to Enhance Deployment of OG-1 Autonomous Construction Robots
Origin has announced it has raised $20 million in funding, co-led by Accel and Zacua Ventures, to scale its OG-1 robot, which autonomously performs drywall finishing tasks. The funding will be used to expand its fleet and support pilot projects in the U.S. and Europe, with plans to deploy 150 robots by the end of 2027.
Italy’s Fincantieri to Invest Nearly $100M in Robotics, Physical AI for Shipyards
Insider Brief Fincantieri plans to invest nearly $100 million through 2030 to expand robotics, physical AI and automation across 13 shipyards under its BOOST² – The Shipyard of the Future program. The initiative is moving from technology scouting and experimentation into broader deployment, with applications including collaborative robotics, digital twins, smart supply-chain systems, additive manufacturing and automated industrial equipment.
China’s RoboParty Launches Open-Source RP1 Humanoid for Robotics Research
Insider Brief RoboParty has launched RP1, a full-stack open-source humanoid robot for robotics research and embodied AI development, with access to both hardware and software. RP1 comes in standard and Pro versions with 24 and 30 actuated degrees of freedom, respectively, and supports modular hardware, whole-body control, VR teleoperation, motion capture and simulation-to-real-world workflows.
Origin Raises $20M to Scale Autonomous Construction Robots
Insider Brief Origin has emerged from stealth with $20 million in funding co-led by Accel and Zacua Ventures to expand deployment of its OG-1 robot, which autonomously handles drywall finishing tasks such as applying compound, sanding and priming.
Hesai Unveils Kosmo 3D Data Platform for Enhanced Robot Training and World Modeling
Hesai has introduced Kosmo, a 3D world data platform that integrates the Kosmo One spatial camera and Kosmo World cloud service to transform real-world environments into digital formats for robot training and world modeling. An operator can scan a typical 100-square-meter indoor area in approximately 15 minutes, enabling the generation of simulation-ready environments with advanced features like 3D Gaussian Splatting and semantic segmentation.
UBTech Expands Humanoid Deployments with FAW-Volkswagen and C&D Agreements, LDRobot Acquires Sabo
UBTech Robotics has signed agreements with FAW-Volkswagen and Xiamen C&D to enhance humanoid deployments and sales channels. The collaboration with FAW-Volkswagen will focus on developing humanoids for logistics and establishing demonstration sites in smart manufacturing, building on previous work at the Qingdao plant. This expansion is significant as it highlights UBTech's commitment to integrating humanoid robots into various sectors, including logistics and manufacturing.
Ultra Secures $62 Million to Enhance Deployment of AI-Driven Warehouse Robots
Ultra has successfully raised $62 million, including a $50 million Series A round led by Framework, to enhance the deployment of its OP1 packing and fulfillment robot. This funding will also support the necessary operations for installation, operation, and servicing of robots at scale. The significance of this funding lies in Ultra's commitment to integrating robots into customer environments early, allowing real-world requirements to shape the OP1's development.
China Physical AI Roundup: UBTech Signs FAW-Volkswagen, C&D Deals and LDRobot Moves to Buy Germany’s Sabo, Plus Funding Rounds
Insider Brief UBTech Robotics signed new agreements with FAW-Volkswagen and Xiamen C&D to expand humanoid deployments and sales channels, while Chinese Physical AI companies also reported fresh funding, acquisitions and model releases. Funding included several hundred million yuan for Litchibot, more than 100 million yuan for Wuxi Juxie Intelligent Drive Technology and about 100 million yuan for LivSyn Robotics, while LDRobot agreed to buy Germany’s Sabo-Maschinenfabrik for up to €6 million.
Ultra Raises $62M in Funding to Expand Deployment of its AI-Powered Warehouse Robots
Insider Brief Ultra has raised $62 million, including a $50 million Series A led by Framework with participation from Y Combinator, to expand deployment of its OP1 packing and fulfillment robot and the operations needed to install, run and service robots at scale. Y Combinator said Ultra’s robots are already operating in U.S. warehouses and have packed more than 500,000 orders, with customers paying an installation fee and recurring subscription covering hardware, software and support.
Hesai Launches Kosmo 3D Data Platform for Robot Training and World Models
Insider Brief Hesai has launched Kosmo, a 3D world data system that combines its Kosmo One spatial camera and Kosmo World cloud platform to turn real environments into digital spaces for robot training, world models and other spatial applications.
Icon Secures $200 Million in Series D Funding to Enhance Robotic Construction Systems
Icon has successfully raised $200 million in Series D funding, co-led by Baillie Gifford and BlackRock, to enhance its robotic construction systems. The funding will support the scaling of its Titan multi-story printing system and the establishment of a large R&D facility in Austin, Texas, while also expanding operations in various U.S. markets. This funding round is significant as it positions Icon to address the pressing U.S. housing shortage and an aging workforce in the construction industry.
Icon Raises $200M in Series D Funding to Scale Robotic Construction Systems
Insider Brief Icon has raised $200 million in Series D funding co-led by Baillie Gifford and funds managed by BlackRock to expand manufacturing and deployment of its robotic construction systems. The company plans to use the financing to scale its Titan multi-story print system, open a large R&D facility in Austin and expand across Texas, Florida, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. markets.
Milrem Robotics and Chugach Alaska Corp. have entered a memorandum of cooperation to explore the production and support of Milrem's unmanned ground systems in the U.S. This partnership aims to enhance capabilities for American and allied customers, focusing on assembly, sustainment, and lifecycle support.
Physical Intelligence Launches Beta Pi API for Enhanced Robot Model Training and Deployment
Physical Intelligence has introduced a beta version of its Pi API, enabling robotics developers to access its foundation models for fine-tuning and inference. This platform allows developers to upload robot data and fine-tune models on company-managed compute resources, streamlining the adaptation of general-purpose robotics models for specific applications. The significance of this launch lies in its potential to reduce the engineering workload required for customizing robotics models.
Agility Robotics Advances SEC Approval for Planned Merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI
Agility Robotics has made significant progress towards becoming a publicly traded company after the SEC approved its registration statement for a merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI. A shareholder vote is scheduled for November 2, with the deal expected to close later that month, potentially generating over $620 million in gross proceeds. This merger is crucial for Agility Robotics as it aims to enhance its production capabilities and expand its commercial deployments.
Milrem Robotics, Chugach Plan US Production Partnership for Unmanned Military Systems
Insider Brief Milrem Robotics and Chugach Alaska Corp. have signed a memorandum of cooperation to explore U.S.-based production, integration and support of Milrem’s unmanned ground systems for American and allied customers. Chugach could become Milrem’s preferred U.S. industrial partner for assembly, sustainment, lifecycle support and configuration of systems for Defense Department, federal and commercial requirements.
Physical Intelligence Opens Pi API Beta for Robot Model Training and Deployment
Insider Brief Physical Intelligence has launched a beta version of its Pi API, giving robotics developers hosted access to its latest foundation models for fine-tuning and inference. Developers can upload robot data, fine-tune a Pi model on company-managed compute and deploy it through a hosted inference gateway, allowing teams to iterate on tasks without building the full machine-learning infrastructure themselves.
Agility Robotics Clears SEC Step On Path to Becoming Publicly Listed Humanoid Robot Company
Insider Brief Agility Robotics moved closer to a public listing after the SEC declared effective its registration statement for a proposed merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI, with a shareholder vote set for Nov. 2. The transaction is expected to provide more than $620 million in gross proceeds, including about $424 million from Churchill XI’s trust account and roughly $200 million from a Foxconn-led PIPE.
Neura Robotics Launches Neuron AI Foundation Model for Enhanced Physical AI Capabilities
Neura Robotics has unveiled Neuron AI, a multimodal foundation model designed to enhance robots' understanding of the physical world. This model integrates vision, touch, audio, robot-state data, language, and memory, utilizing a Perception-Language-Action architecture to maintain context and track objects even when they are out of view. The introduction of Neuron AI is significant as it aims to improve robots' capabilities in performing complex tasks that require more than just visual input.
Neura Robotics Unveils ‘Neuron AI’ Foundation Model for Physical AI
Insider Brief Neura Robotics has introduced Neuron AI, a multimodal foundation model that combines vision, touch, audio, robot-state data, language and memory to help robots understand and act in the physical world. Neuron AI uses a Perception-Language-Action architecture and memory to maintain context, track objects when they leave view and connect previous actions with their effects, while training draws on real-world robot data, simulation and human demonstrations.
Ondas and Palantir Establish Regna AI for Advanced Sovereign Defense Solutions
Ondas and Palantir Technologies have launched Regna AI, a new company focused on developing sovereign AI models tailored for defense and critical operations. Regna AI will leverage Palantir’s AIP and open-weight models to facilitate mission-specific AI applications within customer-controlled environments, including drones and command-and-control systems.
Google Begins Gemini 4 Argon Rollout
Insider Brief Google has made Gemini 4 Argon broadly available to developers, enterprises and consumers, expanding the model beyond its initial early-access rollout. Argon is available through the paid Gemini API, AI Studio, the Gemini platform, Google Antigravity and select Gemini app and AI Mode subscriptions, with introductory pricing of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens.
Ondas and Palantir Launch Regna AI for Sovereign Defense Systems
Insider Brief Ondas and Palantir Technologies have formed Regna AI, a standalone company that will develop sovereign AI models for defense and other mission-critical operations. Regna AI will use Palantir’s AIP and open-weight models to run mission-specific AI within customer-controlled infrastructure and on edge systems including drones, ground vehicles, surface vessels and command-and-control platforms.
Ubitium Secures $14 Million Funding to Develop Universal Processor for Physical AI
Ubitium has successfully raised $14 million in seed funding, led by Ibex Investors, to advance its development of a universal processor aimed at integrating sensing, AI inference, and real-time control for autonomous machines such as robots and drones. This funding increases Ubitium's total seed capital to $18 million since its inception in 2024.
Google DeepMind Establishes New Robotics Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Google DeepMind has announced the opening of a new robotics lab in the Boston area, specifically in Cambridge, as part of its initiative to enhance its hardware team. This development aims to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into physical systems, a project led by Aaron Saunders, the vice president of embodied systems and robotics at Google DeepMind.
Google DeepMind to Open Robotics Lab in Boston Area
Google DeepMind is building a new robotics lab in the Boston area as it expands a hardware team focused on bringing advanced AI into physical systems. Aaron Saunders, former Boston Dynamics CTO and current Google DeepMind vice president of embodied systems and robotics, made the announcement in a LinkedIn recruitment post Monday. Saunders said the team has been under development since he joined Google DeepMind almost a year ago and will be housed in the new facility in Cambridge.
Ubitium Raises $14M in New Funding to Build Universal Processor for Physical AI
Insider Brief Ubitium has raised $14 million in new seed funding led by Ibex Investors to develop a universal processor designed to combine sensing, AI inference and real-time control for robots, drones and other autonomous machines. The financing brings Ubitium’s total seed funding to $18 million, with OpenOcean, KBC Focus Fund, Runa Capital, Inflection and Quantum Systems co-founder Florian Seibel participating in the latest round.
Stryker to Invest $400 Million in CMR Surgical for U.S. Sales Rights and Acquisition Option
Stryker has announced plans to invest approximately $400 million in CMR Surgical, a British company specializing in surgical robotics. This strategic alliance grants Stryker exclusive U.S. sales rights to CMR's Versius robotic surgery systems and an option to acquire the company in the future.
Siemens Launches Six Factory Testbeds in China to Enhance Physical AI Applications
Siemens has inaugurated six physical AI application scenarios across five factories in China to test and refine systems on actual production lines. This initiative includes the introduction of over 20 new products and the signing of cooperation agreements with more than 40 Chinese companies in various sectors. The significance of this development lies in China's status as a major industrial market and a vital testing ground for industrial AI.
Stryker to Invest $400M in CMR Surgical, Gains U.S. Sales Rights and Acquisition Option
Insider Brief Stryker plans to invest approximately $400 million in British surgical robotics company CMR Surgical through a strategic alliance that gives it exclusive U.S. sales rights to CMR’s Versius robotic surgery systems and an option to acquire the company.
Siemens Opens Factory Testbeds in China to Advance Physical AI
Insider Brief Siemens has opened six physical AI application scenarios across five factories in China to test and refine systems on real production lines, while also introducing more than 20 products and signing cooperation agreements with more than 40 Chinese companies. The six factory scenarios cover bulk-material sorting and feeding, autonomous container movement, depalletizing and palletizing, process operation and quality inspection, precision screw tightening and flexible packaging.
Amap and Sands China Deploy Tutu Robot Dogs as Resort Guides in Macau
Insider Brief Amap and Sands China have begun deploying Tutu robot dogs at Sands Resorts Macau to provide autonomous visitor guidance while supporting indoor navigation and 3D resort mapping. Amap said the robots can navigate around people and obstacles, answer questions in Chinese and English, maintain conversational context and guide visitors to destinations, with one 11-hour test logging 214 direction requests, 4,546 questions and more than 40 kilometers traveled.
Week Ahead in AI: Report of Decart Acquisition by Amazon, Nvidia Investment in Reflection Talk, Plus Will ‘Super Intelligence’ Term Stick?
Welcome to AI Insider’s The Week Ahead in AI. See the key developments and events we’re watching Oct. 11-17. Reuters reported Amazon is in talks to acquire AI startup Decart in a deal valued at around $7 billion, citing the Wall Street Journal, which said an agreement could come soon if talks hold and no other bidder emerges.
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