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Waabi raises $1 billion to accelerate commercialization of autonomous trucking and expand into robotaxis

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Waabi, a developer of autonomous trucks and physical AI, has closed its oversubscribed $750 million Series C round co-led by Khosla Ventures and G2 Venture Partners, and secured an additional milestone-based future investment from Uber to support a new partnership to deploy robotaxis powered by the Waabi Driver exclusively on the Uber platform.

The funding, the largest fundraise in Canadian history, will fuel the continued advancement of Waabi’s Physical AI Platform, further accelerate the company’s commercial progress in autonomous trucking, and support Waabi’s expansion into robotaxis.

Founded in 2021, Waabi has quickly ascended from industry upstart to leader in physical AI. The company’s “revolutionary” Physical AI Platform enables true scale, generalizing to different form factors, geographies, and environments. [Read more…] about Waabi raises $1 billion to accelerate commercialization of autonomous trucking and expand into robotaxis

Richtech Robotics partners with Microsoft to advance agentic AI in real-world robotics applications

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Richtech Robotics, a US-based provider of AI-driven robots operating in commercial and industrial environments, has announced a hands-on collaboration with Microsoft through the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Labs to jointly develop and deploy agentic artificial intelligence capabilities in real-world robotic systems.

Through close collaboration between Richtech Robotics’ engineering team and Microsoft’s AI Co-Innovation Labs, the companies worked together to enhance Richtech Robotics’ Adam robot with adaptive intelligence powered by Azure AI.

The collaboration focused on applying vision, voice, and autonomous reasoning to physical environments, enabling robots to move beyond task execution and support more contextual, conversational, and operationally aware interactions. [Read more…] about Richtech Robotics partners with Microsoft to advance agentic AI in real-world robotics applications

OpenMind launches app store for robots

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OpenMind, a robotics software company, has launched its “App Store for robots”, a platform designed to serve as the software distribution layer for quadruped and humanoid robots already operating in real-world environments.

As robots move beyond research labs into commercial and consumer deployment, software – not hardware – has emerged as the primary constraint on scale. While robotic platforms continue to mature mechanically, most remain locked into vertically integrated software stacks that limit adaptability and slow iteration.

OpenMind’s App Store introduces a shared application marketplace that allows robots to be configured, updated, and repurposed through software. [Read more…] about OpenMind launches app store for robots

Robotiq launches tactile sensor fingertips for adaptive gripper

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Robotiq has launched its TSF-85 tactile sensor fingertips for the 2F-85 Adaptive Gripper, giving Physical AI systems the sense of touch needed for real-world manipulation.

With integrated tactile sensing, Robotiq enables robots to not only see the world, but to feel, understand, and reliably interact with it at scale. The Tactile Sensor Fingertips for the 2F-85 gripper are available now.

Robots cannot learn the physical world through vision alone. Real-world manipulation requires contact awareness, force control, and feedback from interaction. [Read more…] about Robotiq launches tactile sensor fingertips for adaptive gripper

Vention raises $110 million to accelerate physical AI across global manufacturing

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Vention, the provider of an AI-powered software and hardware platform for automation and robotics, has raised $110 million in financing, with participation from Investissement Québec, Desjardins Capital, certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC, NVentures (Nvidia’s venture capital arm) and other financial institutions.

The new capital will accelerate Vention’s mission to deliver Zero-Shot Automation, a new paradigm for manufacturing automation that deploys seamlessly, without integration, and operates correctly on the first attempt.

A portion of the investment will also fuel Vention’s expansion across EMEA, strengthening its presence and operations to solidify its position as the standard for automation in the European market. [Read more…] about Vention raises $110 million to accelerate physical AI across global manufacturing

Serve Robotics to acquire Diligent Robotics, expanding autonomy platform into hospitals

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Serve Robotics has agreed to acquire healthcare robotics company Diligent Robotics, marking its first move beyond outdoor, sidewalk-based delivery and into indoor environments such as hospitals.

The deal brings Diligent’s autonomous hospital robot, Moxi, into Serve’s portfolio and expands the company’s autonomy platform into healthcare settings that require high reliability, safety, and close interaction with people.

Diligent Robotics was founded in 2017 by Andrea Thomaz and Vivian Chu and has raised more than $100 million from investors including Tiger Global, Canaan, and True Ventures.

The company develops AI-powered robot assistants designed to support clinical staff by handling routine logistics tasks inside hospitals. [Read more…] about Serve Robotics to acquire Diligent Robotics, expanding autonomy platform into hospitals

The view from Universal Robots: Four physical AI predictions for 2026 and beyond

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By Anders Billesø Beck, vice president, AI robotics products at Universal Robots

The robotics industry is evolving faster than ever, and the signals of what’s next are already visible. As someone focused on shaping the future of automation, I see four trends that will redefine how robots create value.

From smarter math and cooperative behaviors to industry-specific AI and a new data economy, here’s what I predict will matter most in the years ahead. [Read more…] about The view from Universal Robots: Four physical AI predictions for 2026 and beyond

Multiply Labs partners with Nvidia to bring physical AI robotics to advanced biomanufacturing

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Multiply Labs, a specialist in robotic biomanufacturing, has announced what it describes as a “landmark milestone” in its mission to scale production of cell and gene therapies. 

The company is now leveraging Nvidia’s open Isaac and GR00T technologies, including advanced robotics simulation and perception, marking a turning point for an industry that has historically relied on manual, “artisanal” processes.

Cell and gene therapies are life-changing treatments that hold the potential to address cancer and autoimmune diseases, but manufacturing remains difficult to scale with time-intensive processes and variability that can impact throughput and cost. [Read more…] about Multiply Labs partners with Nvidia to bring physical AI robotics to advanced biomanufacturing

XELA Robotics unlocks enhanced automation for humanoid and industrial robots

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XELA Robotics presented its uSkin 3D tactile sensing technology at CES 2026, showing how advanced touch sensing can improve manipulation and automation in humanoid and industrial robots.

The Tokyo-based company, which focuses on tactile sensor hardware and software, demonstrated uSkin integrated into robotic hands and grippers, highlighting how robots can detect contact forces, object shape, and movement within a grasp.

The system is designed to provide robots with a more detailed sense of touch than is typically available using force or vision sensors alone. [Read more…] about XELA Robotics unlocks enhanced automation for humanoid and industrial robots

Rollo Robotics secures €3.7m pre-seed round led by FoodLabs and Prototype to mature monowheel technology

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Rollo Robotics, the Estonian deep-tech startup pioneering the world’s first stable autonomous monowheel security robot, has raised €3.7 million in pre-seed funding.

The round was led by Berlin-based FoodLabs and frontier tech venture capital company Prototype, with support from Enterprise Estonia’s RUP programme.

The investment follows the company’s emergence from stealth. Rollo Robotics was founded in 2025 by Arno Kütt (the visionary behind Cleveron) and Sander Sebastian Agur. [Read more…] about Rollo Robotics secures €3.7m pre-seed round led by FoodLabs and Prototype to mature monowheel technology