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What makes robots feel alive? Human-robot interaction expert Sarah Sebo explains

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As robots become more expressive and socially capable, the line between machines and living characters is starting to blur. From Disney’s lifelike Olaf robot (main image) to interactive droids inspired by Star Wars, recent developments highlight how far robotics has come in replicating human-like behavior and emotion.

But what actually makes a robot feel “alive” – and why do some machines feel natural while others fall into the so-called “uncanny valley”?

To explore these questions, Robotics & Automation News spoke with Sarah Sebo, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Chicago, whose research focuses on human-robot interaction and the social, cultural and technological impact of robots in everyday environments. [Read more…] about What makes robots feel alive? Human-robot interaction expert Sarah Sebo explains

Exol launches US robotic fulfillment network with ‘fulfillment-as-a-service’ model

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Exol (formerly GreenBox Logistics) has launched its first US “physical AI” fulfillment facilities, introducing what the company describes as a new logistics model designed to expand access to large-scale warehouse automation.

The company says it plans to build a nationwide network of six automated sites totaling around six million square feet, aimed at supporting retail, wholesale and consumer goods companies. The first facility in Atlanta is now operational, while additional locations are planned in California, Texas, New Jersey and Illinois over the next year.

The concept behind Exol’s offering – described as “robotic fulfillment-as-a-service” – is to provide companies with access to automated warehouse infrastructure without requiring them to invest in their own systems. [Read more…] about Exol launches US robotic fulfillment network with ‘fulfillment-as-a-service’ model

From hype to reality: ASI CEO Mel Torrie on why autonomous vehicles are outpacing humanoid robots

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Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) is not a company that regularly dominates headlines, but it has spent more than two decades quietly building and deploying autonomous vehicle systems across industries where automation is already delivering measurable results.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Utah, ASI has focused on real-world autonomy – retrofitting and orchestrating fleets of heavy equipment in sectors such as agriculture, construction, mining and logistics.

Its Mobius command-and-control platform (image below) enables operators to manage multiple autonomous vehicles remotely, positioning the company as a long-standing player in what is now being reframed as “physical AI”. [Read more…] about From hype to reality: ASI CEO Mel Torrie on why autonomous vehicles are outpacing humanoid robots

ABB partners with Jacobi Robotics to roll out AI-powered palletizing for integrator network

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Jacobi Robotics, a Physical AI company for warehouse automation, has announced a collaboration with ABB Robotics, which will integrate Jacobi’s OmniPalletizer AI software within its portfolio of robotics hardware and software.

The collaboration will give ABB Robotics’ network of system integrators a productized, repeatable way to deploy AI-powered mixed-case palletizing without upstream sequencing infrastructure, facility redesign, or custom engineering.

Mixed-case palletizing – building stable, store-ready pallets from live, unsequenced case flows – is one of the most labor-intensive and costly manual workflows in distribution. [Read more…] about ABB partners with Jacobi Robotics to roll out AI-powered palletizing for integrator network

Agile Robots closes acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering

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Agile Robots, a leading provider of AI-powered robotic solutions, has successfully acquired assets of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering in Europe and North America.

Through the acquisition, the Munich-based company is strengthening its position in next-generation automation solutions and is tapping into new growth markets and close partnerships with leading OEMs. The acquisition had initially been announced in November 2025.

thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering will continue as Krause Automation as part of Agile Robots, reflecting its tradition as a leading provider of automated production systems. [Read more…] about Agile Robots closes acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering

Positronic Robotics launches ‘PhAIL’ benchmark to test real-world performance of physical AI systems

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Positronic Robotics has introduced a new benchmarking initiative aimed at evaluating how well AI-driven robots perform in real-world industrial tasks, as interest grows in so-called “physical AI” systems.

The benchmark, called PhAIL (Physical AI Leaderboard), measures robotic performance using operational metrics such as units per hour and mean time between failures, rather than traditional academic indicators like task success rates. According to the company, the goal is to align evaluation methods more closely with how automation is assessed in commercial environments.

Initial testing focuses on bin-to-bin picking – a common task in logistics and manufacturing – using a standardized robotic setup. The system runs repeated trials on physical hardware, with each run recorded and published alongside telemetry and performance data. [Read more…] about Positronic Robotics launches ‘PhAIL’ benchmark to test real-world performance of physical AI systems

Agibot reaches 10,000 humanoid units built as real-world demand for robots accelerates

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Agibot, a leading robotics company specializing in embodied intelligence, said it has rolled out its 10,000th humanoid robot, becoming one of the first companies in the industry to reach this milestone at scale. 

More than a production figure, the achievement marks a significant step forward for the robotics industry, signaling a transition from early-stage validation to scalable, real-world deployment.

“Reaching 10,000 units is not simply about producing more robots, it reflects a fundamental shift in our ability to scale,” said Peng Zhihui, CTO of Agibot. [Read more…] about Agibot reaches 10,000 humanoid units built as real-world demand for robots accelerates

Maximo completes 100 MW of robotic solar installation in California

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Maximo, the solar robotics company incubated by the AES Corporation, has announced the successful installation of 100 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar capacity at AES’ Bellefield complex, located on former agricultural land near California City in Kern County.

Demand for electricity continues to grow rapidly, driven by data center expansion, electrification and industrial manufacturing. Solar construction faces increasing pressure from labor constraints, compressed project timelines and cost volatility.

Maximo’s robotic solar installation solution is helping close the gap between the need for faster time to power and construction capacity. The 100 MW achievement marks the transition of robotic module installation from early deployment validation to sustained commercial production. [Read more…] about Maximo completes 100 MW of robotic solar installation in California

San José airport introduces AI-powered IntBot humanoid to assist passengers

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As the gateway to Silicon Valley, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) is bringing cutting-edge artificial intelligence directly into the passenger journey.

The Airport has introduced an interactive AI-powered humanoid robot, named “Josie”, from local start-up, IntBot. Designed to greet travelers, answer questions and provide real-time information – Josie will help to turn one of the region’s busiest public spaces into a live testing ground for emerging technology.

Developed by Silicon Valley-based technology company IntBot, the system represents a new generation of physical AI agents that use multimodal intelligence – combining vision, audio and language – to interact naturally with people in busy public environments. [Read more…] about San José airport introduces AI-powered IntBot humanoid to assist passengers

Agile Robots and Google DeepMind partner to ‘bring intelligence to robotics’

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Agile Robots, a developer of humanoids and other robots, and Google DeepMind, the renowned AI lab, have formed a strategic research partnership to advance next generation AI robotics and “bring intelligence to robotics”.

The partnership is built on a belief that applying AI in the physical world will be transformative. The collaboration will bring cutting-edge AI into real-world robotic systems and enable adaptable, reasoning robots for industrial environments. It combines Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models with Agile Robots’ scalable industrial robotics platform.

By bringing together Agile Robots’ hardware and other AI robotic solutions developed in Germany, with Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models, the two teams will improve performance via robot deployment, data collection, model training and iteration. [Read more…] about Agile Robots and Google DeepMind partner to ‘bring intelligence to robotics’