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From audio tapes to AI: Interview with TDK Ventures investment director Ankur Saxena

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Artificial intelligence has become the dominant theme in technology investing, but when it comes to robotics, some investors argue that the industry may be drawing the wrong conclusions from recent breakthroughs in large language models and generative AI.

Among them is Ankur Saxena, investment director at TDK Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of TDK Corporation.

While TDK is widely recognized today as a supplier of electronic components, sensors, power systems, and advanced materials, many readers will remember the company as one of the world’s most recognizable brands in the era of cassette tapes and audio recording media. [Read more…] about From audio tapes to AI: Interview with TDK Ventures investment director Ankur Saxena

Rotaku launches Domo humanoid robot platform starting at $2,999 for developers

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Rotaku has opened reservations for Domo, a compact humanoid robot platform designed for developers, makers, educators and robotics teams working with real humanoid hardware.

The Domo lineup starts at $2,999 and is intended to make humanoid robot development more accessible to users working on motion control, teleoperation, manipulation, robot interaction and embodied AI. [Read more…] about Rotaku launches Domo humanoid robot platform starting at $2,999 for developers

MIPI Alliance launches ‘Physical AI Birds of a Feather group’ focused on humanoids

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The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops specifications that standardize wired interfaces for mobile and other connected ecosystems, has announced the formation of a “Physical AI Birds of a Feather (BoF) group” dedicated to exploring upcoming technologies and trends in the physical AI market, with an initial focus on humanoids.

The group will examine how MIPI specifications can support the rapidly developing humanoid application space.

The market emerging around humanoid robots is dynamic, with Yole Group projecting a 56 percent CAGR to reach more than $6 billion by 2030. As adoption is expected to accelerate at the start of the next decade, the value could soar to $51 billion by 2035. [Read more…] about MIPI Alliance launches ‘Physical AI Birds of a Feather group’ focused on humanoids

Infineon launches humanoid robotics-focused startup challenge for 2026

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Infineon’s Startup Challenge brings together promising founder teams and young high-tech companies from across the globe to work jointly on a highly relevant topic: humanoid robotics.

The Challenge is a structured innovation program designed to develop technological concepts into market-ready applications. It is part of Infineon’s global Co‑Innovation Program, in which Infineon drives innovation together with startups as a technology and development partner.

Sören Jehmlich, vice president ventures, startups and ecosystems at Infineon, says: “Semiconductors are the foundation of humanoid robotics and a key growth driver. [Read more…] about Infineon launches humanoid robotics-focused startup challenge for 2026

Custom chips are taking over: Why AI, autonomy, and communications can’t rely on general-purpose silicon anymore

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By Mike Kappes, founder and CSO of NEXT Semiconductor Technologies

The universal law of competitive engineering rewards any design that moves more data with less energy and cost. Every advancement in computing hardware has followed that path, and the next innovation now depends on application-specific silicon.

While general-purpose processors were sufficient for computing in the early decades of the digital age, the leading companies in AI, self-driving technology, and telecommunications now find that these readily available components can no longer meet their performance requirements. Custom chips now set the pace, cost, and capability. [Read more…] about Custom chips are taking over: Why AI, autonomy, and communications can’t rely on general-purpose silicon anymore