Now Robotics

Ukraine's digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov has announced plans to deploy an 'army of robots' on the battlefield, according to Le Parisien. The initiative aims to replace human soldiers on the front line with unmanned ground and aerial systems, reducing casualties in the war against Russia. Fedorov, who has driven Ukraine's rapid wartime adoption of drone and autonomous technology, framed the effort as the country's new strategic bet to offset its manpower shortage.

Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi has reportedly reversed recent Russian gains, using robotic systems to carry out combat airdrops and clear minefields. Ars Technica reports that unmanned ground and aerial vehicles played a central role in defeating a Russian pincer manoeuvre, underlining how Kyiv is increasingly deploying robots for dangerous frontline tasks and reducing risks to its soldiers.

A Ukrainian commander has described how his troops conduct ground assaults during daylight hours while deploying ground robots and other unmanned systems at night. The explanation highlights how Ukraine's forces are increasingly relying on robotic vehicles to move supplies and support attacks while reducing risk to soldiers, with darkness offering cover from Russian drones and observation.

The International Federation of Robotics reports that the number of industrial robots operating in factories worldwide has exceeded 5 million, a new milestone for automation. The figure highlights the accelerating adoption of robotics in manufacturing, driven by labor shortages and demands for productivity across major industrial economies.

A robot described as the world's first embodied AI system built on a fully domestic electronic architecture has been unveiled. According to an expert cited in the report, the milestone marks a shift from developing key components toward underlying autonomy in robotics, reducing reliance on foreign chips and control systems. The announcement is drawing attention as countries compete for leadership in embodied AI and domestic hardware supply chains.

Faraday's chairman has warned that moving too quickly to cut China out of the US robotics supply chain could backfire, arguing that an abrupt decoupling risks disrupting manufacturing and raising costs for American robotics firms. The comments, made in an exclusive interview, add to an ongoing debate in Washington and industry over how fast to reduce dependence on Chinese components while building domestic capacity.

The large robotic arm on the International Space Station has stopped working, according to an Ars Technica report. The Canadarm2-style manipulator is a critical tool for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks, so any outage raises questions about station operations and resupply. Details on the cause of the failure and prospects for repair remain limited.

Elon Musk said money might 'not even matter' in the future and advised Gen Z to focus on learning how to prompt robots rather than worrying about traditional careers. His comments feed an ongoing debate about automation, AI and what skills will stay valuable as robots and intelligent machines take on more work.

Amazon, once the robotics industry's biggest customer, is increasingly designing and manufacturing its own warehouse robots in-house rather than purchasing them from outside vendors. The shift, highlighted in industry commentary from the Association for Advancing Automation, marks a turning point for the robotics sector, which has long relied on the retailer's enormous purchasing power. Observers are weighing what the move means for traditional robot suppliers competing with their former top client.

China installed 59% of all industrial robots deployed worldwide in 2025, underscoring its dominance in factory automation. The figure highlights how far the country has pulled ahead of other manufacturing economies in adopting robotics, driven by large-scale investment in its electronics, automotive and general industries sectors as it pushes to offset a shrinking workforce.

The global stock of industrial robots in operation has reached five million units, according to a report carried by technology trade press. The milestone reflects years of rising automation in manufacturing, driven by labour shortages and falling robot costs, with installations concentrated in Asia's automotive and electronics industries.

The US Food and Drug Administration has released draft guidance covering surgical robotics. The document, reported by MedTech Dive, outlines the agency's current thinking for developers and manufacturers of robotic surgical systems. Stakeholders in the medical device industry typically have the opportunity to comment on such drafts before final guidance is issued, which shapes approval expectations for robot-assisted surgery technologies.

The Yuelu Conference 2026 took place in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on September 23–24, bringing together artificial intelligence companies, robotics developers, researchers and investors. The event featured an opening ceremony and ten themed "AI+" forums, positioning Changsha as a growing hub for China's AI and robotics industries.

Robotics companies in the United States, China and Korea are competing to secure the data needed to train humanoid robots. As the industry moves from lab prototypes toward commercial deployment, access to large, high-quality training datasets is becoming a key competitive resource, prompting firms to collect motion, sensor and interaction data at scale across the three countries.

Chinese state media reports that embodied AI robots developed in China are increasingly being deployed in real-world workplaces rather than remaining confined to research and classroom settings. The feature highlights how the country's robotics sector is pushing humanoid and intelligent machines into practical jobs, reflecting China's broader push to lead in embodied artificial intelligence and industrial automation.

China plans to open new manufacturing facilities in Kazakhstan, including plants producing robots, cars and pharmaceuticals. The projects deepen economic and industrial cooperation between the two neighbours and fit Kazakhstan's push to attract foreign investment and diversify its economy beyond raw materials. The announcement is drawing attention across regional media as a sign of expanding Chinese industrial presence in Central Asia.

Ukraine says combat robots dropped 10 kilometres behind Russian lines have inflicted around 3,000 casualties. The claim highlights Kyiv's growing use of unmanned ground and aerial systems to strike deep into occupied territory without risking troops. The figures come from Ukrainian sources and have not been independently verified, but reports of the operation are circulating widely across international outlets.

Autonomous weapons systems, often called killer robots, are drawing renewed attention as military AI capabilities advance rapidly. Debate is intensifying over machines that can select and engage targets without human intervention, with critics urging international limits and militaries investing heavily in the technology. The discussion reflects growing concern that warfare is entering a new automated era faster than regulation can keep up.

Former Ukrainian defense minister Fedorov has announced a new 'Army of Robots' initiative, his latest move since leaving office. The program signals a push to expand autonomous and robotic systems in Ukraine's armed forces, building on the country's wartime drive to scale up unmanned technology. The announcement drew attention alongside other Ukraine-related news, including appeals over the humanitarian crisis in flooded Oleshky.

Japan is reportedly planning to study replacing some of its military personnel with humanoid robots. The move would address personnel shortages and reduce risk to soldiers, and it has drawn attention given Japan's pacifist constitution and its leading robotics industry. Details on which roles could be automated and the timeline remain limited.

Seoul is moving to remove regulatory obstacles so delivery robots can operate and park inside apartment complexes. The plan would allow autonomous robots to deliver food, parcels and groceries directly to residents' doors in South Korea's high-density housing, where such machines are currently restricted. It signals the city's push to accelerate commercial robotics services in everyday urban life.

Major League Baseball's average game length is climbing again after years of decline, and ESPN reports the automated ball-strike system is one of the reasons. The robot umpires, introduced to make strike calls more accurate, are being linked to longer at-bats and slower pace of play, prompting debate among fans and analysts over whether accuracy is worth the extra time.

A CNBC report on AI and robotics is drawing attention to worker anxieties about automation reshaping jobs. The piece weighs how robotic systems and AI tools are moving into workplaces, raising questions about job security and the changing role of human resources. Commenters are debating what the shift means for employees.

A University of Chicago Booth School of Business economist argues that taxing artificial intelligence, rather than letting it replace workers tax-free, could slow job displacement and protect employment. The idea revives debates over robot taxes, with supporters saying it would give workers time to adjust and critics warning it could slow innovation and productivity growth.

A new report confirms that China continues to hold its position as the world's largest market for industrial robots, maintaining its lead over other major economies in industrial automation. The finding underscores the country's sustained investment in robotics across manufacturing sectors, reinforcing its central role in the global robotics industry.

Reports claim the United States has overtaken Japan in the global robotics race, a notable shift given Japan's long-standing dominance in industrial robotics. Details on what metrics drove the change, such as installations, patents, or investment levels, were not provided in the coverage reviewed. Observers of the robotics industry are likely weighing what this means for manufacturing competitiveness and technology leadership between the two countries.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased $1.3 million worth of robotic dogs from a Connecticut-based company. The acquisition puts quadruped robots, normally associated with industrial inspection, into the hands of a federal immigration enforcement agency, drawing attention to how such technology may be deployed in raids, surveillance or border operations.

China now accounts for roughly 60% of global humanoid robot patents, underlining its widening lead in the robotics sector, according to a report carried by the Korea Herald. The patent dominance points to heavy Chinese investment in humanoid technology and raises questions about future competitive pressure on US, Japanese, Korean and European firms racing to commercialise humanlike robots.

Generalist AI is pursuing an approach in which robots acquire skills the way modern AI models learn, rather than through hand-coded behaviours. The company argues that scaling data and training methods, as done in language and image models, can be applied to robotics. The idea is drawing attention because it could reshape how robots are built and commercialised, though questions remain over data availability and real-world reliability.

Industry reporting highlights robot field service as a key challenge for scaling automation. As robots spread across warehouses, factories and logistics networks, keeping the machines running in the field — repairs, maintenance and remote support — is emerging as the real test of whether automation can be deployed reliably at large scale, with service capability increasingly viewed as a deciding factor for operators and suppliers.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla says valuations for most robotics startups will fall by 2030, according to The Information. The prediction from the prominent Khosla Ventures founder is drawing attention as investors reassess how much of the current enthusiasm around robotics and AI reflects durable business value versus hype-driven pricing.

Ukraine is reported to be sending unmanned ground vehicles fitted with grenade launchers to attack Russian positions, replacing infantry in certain assaults. The deployment reflects Kyiv's growing reliance on robotic systems to conserve manpower and reduce casualties at the front. The development adds to ongoing discussion about how drones and ground robots are reshaping combat tactics in the war.

A new project called Roboharm asks whether frontier robot policies refuse unsafe instructions, probing how AI systems controlling physical robots respond to harmful requests. The initiative, hosted at RoboCurve, examines safety guardrails for embodied AI as robotics models gain real-world capabilities. Readers of a major technology discussion forum are weighing in on whether current frontier models have adequate refusals for dangerous robot commands.

Boston Dynamics has started training its Atlas humanoid robots at a Hyundai manufacturing plant, marking a step toward deploying the machines in real industrial work. The move signals Hyundai's intent to put the recently redesigned electric Atlas to practical use on factory floors, as automakers and robotics firms race to bring humanoids into manufacturing operations.

Engineers have developed a stacked AI chip that combines fast and slow processing layers to recognize changes in motion over time. The design pairs layers operating at different speeds, allowing the chip to detect both immediate movement and longer-term patterns. The approach could improve event-based vision systems used in robotics, surveillance and autonomous machines, and is drawing attention among researchers following neuromorphic and edge computing hardware.