Remember Pepper, the overhyped “emotional robot” that flopped hard a few years ago? Well, one of its makers, SoftBank, is getting back into the bot business with a $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB’s robotics division. The deal, which still needs the green light from regulators, bolsters the Japanese group’s hand in robotics, which includes stakes […]
This is Sources by Alex Heath, a newsletter about AI and the tech industry, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Building humanoid robots is Meta’s next “AR size bet,” a top executive told me recently. That suggests the company plans to spend billions of dollars on the effort. During a recent conversation […]
Google DeepMind says its upgraded AI models enable robots to complete more complex tasks — and even tap into the web for help. During a press briefing, Google DeepMind’s head of robotics, Carolina Parada, told reporters that the company’s new AI models work in tandem to allow robots to “think multiple steps ahead” before taking action […]
First announced nearly a year ago, Casio’s robotic pet Moflin has been selling so well in Japan, according to the Wall Street Journal, the company is now expanding its availability to other markets including the UK and the US. Preorders for the gold or silver version of Moflin are now available through Casio’s US website. […]
Chinese tech behemoth Ant Group, which owns payment platform Alipay, has been showing off its first humanoid robot at tech conferences this month. It joins a growing wave of companies carving out space along a fresh frontier in automation by combining artificial intelligence with physical tech. Videos and news reports show Robbyant’s R1 robot cooking […]
The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai Robot is the company’s first combination robot vacuum and mop. It debuted at Dyson’s Berlin store during the IFA tech show this week and is a follow-up to the company’s 360 VisNav robot vacuum, which launched in 2023. Featuring a new round design, a self-cleaning roller mop, lidar navigation, and Dyson’s […]
Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire if Tesla shareholders approve a new pay package that was just put forward by the company’s board. Musk would need to meet certain milestones in order to receive that eye-popping compensation, such as producing 1 million robotaxis and 1 million humanoid robots, as well as increase Tesla’s […]
Plenty of autonomous lawnmowers have been showcased or introduced at this year’s IFA event in Berlin, but only one of them comes equipped with a robotic arm. NexLawn, a sub-brand of MOVA that sits under its Dreame parent company, has announced the Master X Series Concept, which it describes as “the first robotic mower with […]
Tesla’s latest “Master Plan” makes a few things clear right out of the gate: the company that was once known for accelerating the push toward a brighter future by popularizing electric vehicles and renewable energy is no longer interested in that quotidian stuff. Now, it’s all about artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, self-driving cars, and the […]
The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is one of the most powerful robot vacuums out there. In fact, its 65 air watts of suction makes it the best option for carpets (even high pile) that we’ve tested yet. And, right now it’s half off at $499 at Amazon, Target, and directly from Dyson. The robovac’s long, […]