Robotics & Automation News

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Artificial Intelligence

Clerical Automation Steps Up A Gear With Agent-Based Systems

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The era of the office might be about to change yet again. Recent advances in clerical processing and software automation have upped the ante, and now many businesses are wondering whether there is any limit to productivity.

Part of this excitement is being driven by so-called “agents” – the next step is autonomous system development. Rather than merely responding to queries, these are being designed to be proactive in the world, helping their owners (i.e., businesses) complete real tasks based on initial instructions.

Experts like to explain this concept as making autonomous systems more human. Agency implies that these solutions can do things by themselves to complete the broader objectives set for them. For example, agents might be able to set up online businesses, including payment systems, without human oversight. [Read more…] about Clerical Automation Steps Up A Gear With Agent-Based Systems

Levels of intelligence: Navigating the future of AI, from robotic arms to autonomous cars

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic fantasy; it’s rapidly becoming an integral part of our daily lives, from the smartphones in our pockets to the complex systems powering industries.

As AI capabilities expand and grow more sophisticated, so does the need to understand and categorize these evolving forms of intelligence.

The concept of “levels of AI” offers a framework to discuss capabilities, manage our expectations, address safety concerns, and potentially guide regulation. [Read more…] about Levels of intelligence: Navigating the future of AI, from robotic arms to autonomous cars

Hedra raises $32 million to build ‘leading’ generative AI platform for digital characters

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Hedra, the AI video generation platform behind over 10 million lifelike videos, has raised $32 million to bring AI-powered video creation to enterprise marketers.

The series A funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz’s Infrastructure fund (a16z Infra), with participation from existing investors, including a16z speedrun, Abstract, and Index Ventures. This round brings the company’s total funding to $44 million since its last announced fundraise in 2024.

In the fight for audience attention, video wins – but producing it remains out of reach for most companies, says Hedra. [Read more…] about Hedra raises $32 million to build ‘leading’ generative AI platform for digital characters

BMW experiments with AI for smarter vehicle quality control

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Can artificial intelligence (AI) make quality control in vehicle production more efficient, faster and more reliable?

A software solution developed at BMW Group Plant Regensburg as part of the “GenAI4Q” pilot project is making this a reality.

At its core is an AI that delivers tailored inspection recommendations for the approximately 1,400 vehicles manufactured each day. [Read more…] about BMW experiments with AI for smarter vehicle quality control

Top 25 AI chip companies in the world

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As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries from automotive to healthcare, the demand for high-performance AI chips has reached unprecedented levels.

These chips power everything from edge devices and data centers to autonomous robots and generative AI models.

With Nvidia recently announcing that it will begin manufacturing some of its AI chips and supercomputers in the United States for the first time, the global AI semiconductor race has taken on new geopolitical and commercial urgency. [Read more…] about Top 25 AI chip companies in the world

Xaba raises $6 million to build ‘synthetic brains’ for industrial robots

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Xaba, a startup which says it is building “synthetic brains for industrial robots with zero code”, has secured a $6 million seed extension to accelerate the deployment of AI-powered robotics and cognitive industrial control systems.

The round was led by Hitachi Ventures with participation from Hazelview Ventures, BDC Capital, Exposition Ventures, and Impact Venture Capital.

Industrial automation today remains highly inefficient, relying on outdated controllers, rigid programming, and extensive manual intervention. [Read more…] about Xaba raises $6 million to build ‘synthetic brains’ for industrial robots

Agility Robotics expands relationship with Nvidia

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Agility Robotics, creator of the market-leading humanoid robot Digit, is expanding its collaboration with Nvidia, one of the world’s leading companies in accelerated computing.

As part of the relationship, Agility Robotics is expanding adoption of Nvidia Isaac Sim and Nvidia Isaac Lab robot simulation and learning frameworks to train and test behaviors on Digit, as well as collaborating to make Digit models available to partners through “Mega”, an Nvidia Omniverse Blueprint.

Digit demonstrated its innovative and autonomous workflows at the recent Nvidia GTC AI Conference. [Read more…] about Agility Robotics expands relationship with Nvidia

IntuiCell unveils ‘world’s first’ digital intelligence that learns like a human brain

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IntuiCell, a Nordic deep-tech startup at the forefront of blending neuroscience and AI innovation, is announcing a world-first scientific and technological milestone: the development of digital intelligence capable of real-world, real-time learning.

This breakthrough by Intuicell, a spin-out of Sweden’s Lund University, marks a paradigm shift in its field: moving beyond static machine learning models (the mainstay of traditional AI) to a fully functional “digital nervous system” capable of scaling naturally to human-level intelligence.

Earlier this month, IntuiCell released the first video footage of an off-the-shelf robot quadruped (with no pre-programmed intelligence or instructions) which the company has augmented with a digital nervous system. [Read more…] about IntuiCell unveils ‘world’s first’ digital intelligence that learns like a human brain

Google DeepMind releases two new AI models for robotics development

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Google DeepMind has introduced two new artificial intelligence models – Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER (short for “embodied reasoning”). Google says this marks a “major step forward” in the development of AI systems designed to control real-world robots.

Both models are built on the Gemini 2.0 platform and are aimed at enabling robots to perform a wide range of tasks with greater generality, interactivity, and dexterity. The initiative also includes a partnership with humanoid robot maker Apptronik to integrate these capabilities into the next generation of robotic assistants. [Read more…] about Google DeepMind releases two new AI models for robotics development

Siemens showcases Simatic Robot Pick AI Pro at Logimat

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Siemens has presented its new developments in industrial automation and digitalization for the intralogistics industry at the recent Logimat event.

Faced with global challenges like labor shortages, growing sustainability requirements, and demographic change, the technology company is introducing innovative automation and digitalization solutions that increase efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability in intralogistics.

With Simatic Robot Pick AI Pro, an industrial vision AI for the development of AI-supported picking robots, Siemens demonstrates in a highlight showcase how the combination of software-defined and data-driven automation creates more adaptability and flexibility in automation solutions in order to overcome the challenges and complexity of today’s intralogistics and to offer future-proof solutions. [Read more…] about Siemens showcases Simatic Robot Pick AI Pro at Logimat