Flock, a surveillance company, has installed more than 100,000 license plate reader cameras across the United States, sparking growing privacy concerns. Opponents say the cameras create a massive database that can track vehicles and share information across jurisdictions, raising concerns about civil liberties and potential government abuse. The controversy has fueled a grassroots anti-Flock movement, with some activists vandalizing cameras and others organizing online campaigns … Continue reading Angers mounts in US over vast network of Flock Cameras

Samsung says its new Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are breaking company pre-order records for foldable phones. U.S. pre-orders are reportedly 30% higher than the previous Z series record, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 accounting for nearly half of all orders. Samsung also says three times as many Flip users are switching to the larger Fold models … Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Z series foldables are breaking pre-order records in the US

The U.S. military is preparing to officially deploy laser weapons as the rise of inexpensive drones changes modern warfare strategies. After decades of development, lasers are becoming more attractive because they can destroy targets at a much lower cost than traditional missiles. Officials say using expensive air-defense systems against cheap drones is inefficient, while laser shots can cost only a few dollars. The technology has … Continue reading US military to add laser weapons to its arsenal

A San Francisco robotics startup has begun offering home cleaning services using humanoid robots for selected customers at $30 per hour. Tau Robotics CEO Alex Koch said the service uses human operators assisted by artificial intelligence because current AI cannot fully control robots independently. The company believes the technology could make cleaning services more accessible to people who do not regularly hire human cleaners. Experts, … Continue reading San Francisco company offers cleaning service using humanoid robots

China warned it may retaliate after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission added advanced foreign-made robotic devices, including humanoid robots, to a restricted import list over cybersecurity concerns. Beijing said the move threatens U.S.-China trade stability and urged Washington to reverse the decision. Analysts warned the restrictions could hurt Chinese robotics companies preparing for major expansions and potential IPOs. The dispute comes as tensions rise between … Continue reading China threatens retaliation against U.S. humanoid robot ban

Safety advocates are raising concerns that Flock Safety’s AI-powered license plate reader cameras may create roadside hazards in addition to privacy concerns. Critics say some camera poles lack safety features such as breakaway bases, are placed too close to roads, and can be difficult for drivers to see. Roadside safety advocate Steve Eimers argues that these structures may increase the risk of serious injuries in … Continue reading Flock surveillance cameras can pose a crash risk for drivers, US experts say

Lockheed Martin says the Pentagon could have operational high-energy laser weapons capable of destroying aerial threats by 2030. Company executive Stephanie Hill said laser systems have already successfully intercepted targets and are becoming a practical, cost-effective defense option. Lockheed is developing more powerful laser systems through a Pentagon program that could eventually scale up for cruise missile defense. The company is also working on other … Continue reading Laser air defenses will be operational before decade’s end, Lockheed exec says

A New York high school has introduced a pilot program featuring a humanoid robot named Sally and an AI teaching assistant designed to provide personalized learning support. The $57,590 robot, purchased by the Cattaraugus County school district, is intended to supplement teachers and give students access to new AI and robotics tools. Teachers and community members have criticized the program, raising concerns about privacy, security, … Continue reading Teachers decry plan for humanoid robot in New York high school

The South Korean Navy tested a humanoid robot named Pibot as a ship’s helmsman in its first operational experiment to explore the future use of robots aboard naval vessels. Developed with researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Pibot successfully followed steering commands and performed tasks normally handled by human crew members. The Navy plans a four-stage testing program, moving from simulations … Continue reading South Korean Navy tests humanoid robot as ship helmsman

Hyundai Motor Company said its plans to deploy humanoid robots are not part of ongoing negotiations with striking South Korean autoworkers. The company stated that current labor disputes are focused on wages, bonuses, and retirement benefits rather than concerns over automation. Hyundai plans to begin using Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robots at its Georgia electric vehicle plant in 2028, with future deployments to be decided … Continue reading Hyundai claims humanoid robot plan is not part of talks with striking workers

Microsoft has agreed to invest billions of dollars in Mistral’s European AI computing infrastructure as part of a partnership to expand the French startup’s technology. The deal will allow Microsoft Azure customers to use Mistral’s data centers in France and access its AI models through Microsoft platforms. The partnership aims to provide European businesses with more control over AI infrastructure while still benefiting from U.S. … Continue reading Microsoft to fund Mistral’s European AI expansion in multibillion-dollar deal

A humanoid robot lost its head during the first free-combat tournament for full-sized humanoid robots, held in Shenzhen, China. Despite the damage, the robot continued fighting by throwing punches and kicks against its opponent. The Ultimate Robot Knock-out Legend (URKL) competition was organized by robotics company EngineAI and featured 32 teams from around the world. All competitors used EngineAI’s T800 humanoid robots in the tournament, … Continue reading Robot Decapitated in World’s First-Ever Humanoid UFC Fight

A New York school district will introduce a $57,000 humanoid AI robot named “Sally” as a classroom teaching assistant beginning in September. The robot will help students in coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence classes but will not replace teachers or collect personal data. Sally, created through a partnership with Realbotix, will have a human-like appearance and a regional accent to make students more comfortable. School … Continue reading NY school to introduce first humanoid robot in US classroom 

A humanoid robot named Atlas appeared at the World Cup and delivered the match ball to the referee during halftime of a Brazil vs. Norway round-of-16 game at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The robot, developed by Boston Dynamics and showcased by Hyundai, also performed movements like goal celebrations, including a pose inspired by Erling Haaland. Engineers had to adapt its systems to handle … Continue reading Atlas, the humanoid robot, delivers match ball at World Cup

Chinese robotics company UBTech Robotics has launched a new line of highly realistic humanoid robots designed for companionship and emotional support. The robots use an AI system that can recognize over 20 human emotions with more than 90% accuracy and respond in real time. They come in male and female versions, with prices ranging from about 119,800 yuan to nearly 990,000 yuan depending on realism and features. … Continue reading China’s UBTech launches AI-powered lifelike companion robots

Humanoid robots developed by Shanghai startup Agibot completed a six-day live factory shift in China, performing over 60,000 production tasks with a reported 99.99% success rate. The robots handled quality control inspections and material processing, marking one of the first large-scale demonstrations of humanoids operating continuously in a real industrial setting. Agibot said the results show humanoid robotics are moving from lab testing toward practical … Continue reading Chinese robot completes six-day factory shift with 99% success rate

A school district in Salamanca, New York, is introducing both an AI tutor and a humanoid robot into classrooms as part of a new pilot program with tech company Realbotix. The AI system, called Optio, will act as a 24/7 personalized tutor and classroom assistant, while the robot will interact with students in person using speech and facial expressions. The program will begin with high … Continue reading First humanoid robot begins teaching in US classroom

Garment workers in India were asked to wear head-mounted cameras while working, recording their movements as part of a growing effort to collect “egocentric data” used to train AI systems and humanoid robots. Companies say this first-person footage is essential for teaching robots how humans perform physical tasks, especially in factories and warehouses where automation is expanding rapidly. The data is being gathered at large … Continue reading Indian factory workers told to film themselves for AI robot replacements

Agility Robotics, an Oregon-based company that builds humanoid warehouse robots, announced plans to go public through a SPAC merger that would value it at about $2.5 billion. The company’s main product, Digit, is already used in industrial settings to move materials and is backed by major firms including Amazon, Nvidia, SoftBank, and Foxconn. Unlike some competitors such as Tesla and Unitree, Agility focuses on practical … Continue reading Agility Robotics heads to Wall Street in a $2.5B bet on staffing warehouses with humanoids

A DoorDash-operated delivery robot, known as Dot the Robot, unexpectedly rolled into an active SWAT situation in Chandler, Arizona, while attempting to complete a food delivery. Police said the robot entered the secured crime scene on June 15 despite officers instructing it to turn around. The autonomous device continued through the area before authorities intervened. Officials later contacted DoorDash to resolve the situation, Fox 28 … Continue reading DoorDash robot refuses to leave SWAT operation in Arizona

U.S. safety regulators have opened a special investigation into a Tesla Model 3 crash in Katy, Texas, that killed a 76-year-old woman after the car struck a home. Authorities say the driver claimed he was using Tesla’s partially automated driving system, though Tesla executives argue he may have manually overridden the system and accelerated before the crash. The incident is being reviewed as part of … Continue reading Tesla faces federal probe after Model 3 slams into Texas home, killing 76-year-old

The Five Eyes intelligence alliance has warned that highly advanced AI models capable of enabling sophisticated cyberattacks could emerge within months, not years. The joint statement from Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand said AI will improve cyber defense but also dramatically increase the speed and scale of cyber threats. Officials urged governments and businesses to treat cyber risk as a core … Continue reading AI models capable of devastating attacks on governments and business months away, Intel agency warns

Waymo is recalling nearly 4,000 robotaxis after regulators found that some vehicles entered closed freeway construction zones during multiple incidents. The recall covers 3,871 vehicles using Waymo’s 5th Generation Automated Driving System and follows 13 reported cases, including several in the San Francisco Bay Area. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the software may fail to properly recognize certain construction-zone closures, allowing vehicles to … Continue reading Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis after cars enter freeway work zones

Genesis AI has unveiled Eno, a general-purpose robot powered by its GENE foundation model, designed to integrate hardware, software, and AI into a single system. The company says Eno emphasizes mobility, dexterity, and real-world functionality rather than human-like appearance, featuring a modular body and dexterous robotic hands for complex tasks. A transparent “cognitive interface” option can display the robot’s real-time thinking and actions to build … Continue reading Genesis AI launches Eno general-purpose robot

A video from Booster Robotics shows its T1 humanoid robot powerfully kicking soccer balls, with some shots hitting hard enough to visibly dent a wall behind the goal. The demonstration, which initially looks like a viral robot soccer clip, raises concerns about how strong and forceful such robots could be in real-world settings. The T1 is a research-focused humanoid platform designed for robotics teams to … Continue reading Robot soccer player dents wall with terrifying kicks