🦾 HardTech Reads: The AI & Robotics Revolution vol.33

Welcome to the exploration of the world where founders embark on bold quests and solve non-obvious problems🤘

🥊 Humanoid robots box live in China / 🧠 Robots gain autonomy in surgery / ⚛️ U.S. issues executive orders to revive nuclear & uranium supply / 🧱 InventWood launches Superwood, stronger than steel / 🌾 Deere targets full-farm automation by 2030 / 🤖 Nvidia declares robotics the next AI frontier / 🦾 Hugging Face & Reachy Mini release open-source humanoids 🦾 Persona AI, Beyond Imagination, The Nuclear Co., CX2, Blues, Converge 🛠

🚀 HARDTECH NEWS: Robotics & AI Innovations

🥊 Humanoids Enter the Arena in China

The World Robot Competition in Hangzhou showcased the world’s first humanoid boxing match featuring Unitree G1 robots trading blows and performing acrobatic kicks. This “train-through-competition” approach aims to fast-track advancements in embodied AI, with a full-scale tournament already slated for December. It’s part sport, part robotics R&D accelerator — and could launch a new genre of esports-meets-robotics.
Learn more.

🤖China Mass Produces Humanoid Robot, Tesla Bot Competitor Ships First Robots

Chinese startup Agibot has quickly become a major player in robotics, reportedly mass-producing nearly 1,000 general-purpose humanoid robots by the end of 2024 — beating Tesla’s timeline, as Tesla aims for mass production by 2026. Agibot’s Shanghai factory features robots working alongside humans and a dedicated facility for real-world data training, generating excitement and confidence among investors and industry insiders.

Experts note that while hardware among top US and Chinese firms is becoming standardized, the real race is in AI capabilities and practical applications. China’s strong manufacturing supply chain gives it an edge in scaling production, but both countries face technical challenges. The industry’s next focus is on expanding real-world uses and improving robot efficiency and reliability. Learn more.

🧠 Robots Begin Making Surgical Decisions

Robots are beginning to assist in operating rooms — not as primary surgeons yet, but with increasing autonomy. From performing routine tasks to managing surgical decision-making, AI-powered robots are poised to ease the global surgeon shortage while boosting safety and precision. The OR may soon be led by intelligent machines.
Learn more.

🤖 Nvidia Declares the Age of Robotics

A VP at Nvidia declared the next wave of AI will unleash robotics, thanks to scalable training in virtual environments and no-code robotics development tools. The fusion of AI and robotics is expected to transform labor markets by enabling smart machines to take on repetitive or dangerous physical tasks.
Learn more.

🌾 John Deere’s Driverless Farming by 2030

By 2030, Deere plans to automate nearly every stage of farming — from tilling to harvesting. Autonomous farm equipment will address labor shortages while radically improving productivity. But the rural job market will need to adapt fast to this seismic shift.
Learn more.

⚛️ The Great Nuclear Comeback

🇧🇪 Belgium has decided to reverse its plan to phase out nuclear energy.

🇩🇪 Germany has indicated it will no longer object to nuclear power being classified alongside renewables in EU regulations.

🇸🇪 Sweden intends to add 5 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2035.

🇩🇰 Denmark’s parliament has revoked its four-decade ban on nuclear reactors.

🇺🇸 Lawmakers in Massachusetts and Illinois are considering ending their respective bans on nuclear power.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has confirmed that California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant can safely operate for at least another 20 years.

🪵 Superwood: Stronger Than Steel

InventWood will soon scale its “Superwood” product — an engineered timber stronger than steel and 10x higher in strength-to-weight ratio. Lightweight, tough, and sustainable, it could revolutionize construction and aerospace materials.
Learn more.

🇨🇴Robot.com’s Global Expansion from Colombia

Robot.com, formerly known as Kiwibot and based in Medellín, has evolved from a campus food delivery startup into a global automation leader. Despite limited state support and high production costs, the company now operates one of the world’s most active robot fleets, with over 500 robots deployed across more than half of the US and expanding into the Middle East and other international markets. Robot.com’s success highlights Colombia’s emerging role in deep tech and robotics, even as the country’s sector faces challenges like high initial costs and scarce funding. The Colombian robotics market is projected to grow rapidly, driven by rising demand for automation in industries such as logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing, though barriers like ROI concerns and regulatory hurdles remain. Learn more.

🤗 Hugging Face and HopeJR &Reachy Mini open-source humanoid robots

🛸Why Space Manufacturing Should Be a National Strategic Priority

The article argues that Australia must urgently invest in domestic space manufacturing to secure its future economic prosperity and national security. As space production becomes increasingly vital for global power and influence, relying on imports and foreign partners is no longer sufficient. Building a sovereign space industry will require patient, strategic investment and a focus on developing local innovation and research, rather than just acquiring technology from abroad. Delaying action risks leaving Australia behind in a sector that will shape the nation’s future. Learn more.

👩‍🏭Specialized Robots Attract Billions with Efficient, Targeted Tasks

Investors are pouring billions into specialized robots that excel at specific, practical tasks rather than flashy, general-purpose functions. These robots, designed for efficiency in areas like logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare, are proving more attractive to businesses due to their reliability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to address labor shortages.
The focus on function over flash is driving rapid growth in the robotics sector, with companies favoring robots that can be easily integrated into existing workflows and deliver clear returns on investment. This trend is reshaping the global robotics market, emphasizing specialized automation solutions over more ambitious, multipurpose machines. Learn more.

Key Robotics Trends from Automate 2025

Steady Growth and Incremental Innovation:
- Automate 2025 saw record attendance and exhibitor numbers, reflecting strong industry interest despite economic headwinds. Most technological advances were incremental — such as faster, more capable collaborative robots — rather than revolutionary.

Major Themes and Market Shifts:

• Convergence: Industrial and collaborative robots are becoming more similar, with cobots gaining strength and precision.

• Ecosystem Focus: Companies showcased integrated solutions, emphasizing partnerships and compatibility.

• Mobile Robots & Manipulators: Growth in mobile manipulators outpaced humanoid robots, which remain experimental.

• Software & AI: Data integration, simulation, and AI-driven software are increasingly central to robotics solutions.

• Component Innovation: Advances in sensors, controls, and vision systems are enabling new applications.

• Sustainability & Labor Augmentation: Robotics is being leveraged to boost efficiency, support sustainability, and augment human labor rather than replace it.

• Tariffs & Trade: Global trade uncertainties and tariffs are affecting business strategies and supply chains.

Automate 2025 highlighted a maturing robotics industry focused on practical, integrated solutions, incremental improvements, and expanding real-world applications, while navigating economic, regulatory, and workforce challenges. Learn more.

🚀 STARTUPS TO KNOW: Game-Changers in HardTech & AI

Persona AI — Raised $27M Series A to build humanoid robots for shipyards, combining bipedal mobility with robotic arms for welding, lifting, and inspection. Isn’t it the coolest thing in the world?!!!

Image

The Nuclear Co. — Raised $51.3M Series A to advance nuclear energy development in the U.S.
Investors: Eclipse (lead), CIV, Goldcrest, MCJ Collective, True Ventures, Wonder Ventures

CX2 — Raised $31M Series A to develop next-gen electronic warfare technologies.
Investors: Point72 Ventures (lead), 201 Ventures

Blue IoT — Raised $25M for IoT connectivity products; founded by Ray Ozzie.
Investors: Sequoia Capital

Converge — Raised $22M Series A for smart concrete sensor systems used in infrastructure and climate-resilient construction.
Investors: ABN Amro, Climate Investment, Move Energy, Pi Impact, J-Impact, TO Ventures, Force Over Mass

Beyond Imagination — Raised $100M to develop humanoid robots focused on autonomy, dexterity, and real-world deployment.
Source: Fast Company

👨‍🔧HARDTECH STARTUPS ARE HIRING

Looking for a 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐛? Check 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝!⚒️🏭🧑‍🏭🤖

Figure, SpaceX, Cobot, ABB, Blue Origin, NASA, Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Rivian, Bright Machines, Archer , GITAI , Relativity Space are hiring!

Check it here 👇

HardTech Jobs Board

📚FAVORITE RESOURCES

🤖 If you missed the Humanoid Summit — London, check the takeways from

Andra Keay

here. Thanks Modar for organizing again!

🛠 The Future of American Manufacturing — Chris Power
Thought-provoking interview on reshoring, robotics, and building enduring industrial capacity.

📍 DOSS Database of American CNC Shops
A strategic resource mapping precision manufacturing capabilities across the U.S. Download here.

🧪 “A Cookbook of Life”
A biochemical exploration of how alien life might emerge on other planets.

🚀 2025 Thiel Fellows Announced
This new class of founders (under 23) is tackling neurostimulation, programmable biology, planetary defense, and more — backed by $200K each and access to elite mentors.

🎤EVENTS

Highlights:

🌨 Snowflake Summit 25 — I heard bots will be in attendance 😉
Register here
🧠 San Francisco — Deep Tech Week + IEEE Hard Tech Summit
🏭 Detroit — Reindustrialize — main highlight of the year!

Upcoming Events:
➖ June 4 Bots&Beer&BoardGames (Mountain View, CA)
➖ June 10–11 Robotics Invest Boston (Boston, MA)
➖ June 14–14 LeRobot Worldwide Hackathon
➖June 14–22 Deep Tech Week (San Francisco, CA)
➖June. 18–19 IEEE Hard Tech Summit — San Francisco, CA

➖ June 30-July 2 International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (College Station, Texas)
➖ July 16–17 — Reindustrialize, Detroit, MI — ping me if you are there!
➖ Aug. 18–22 Intl. Conference on Automation Science & Engineering (Anaheim, California)
➖October 29 — Hard Tech Summit, Ontario, Canada.

🤝 Passionate about HardTech?

Let’s connect: https://bit.ly/3SXPifd

You can also find me on LinkedIn 🛠️

If you are interested in AI, Robotics & HardTech, check my previous posts:

➡️ The world doesn’t fix itself. These startups are trying — The Top 100 HardTech Startups
➡️ Humanoids Don’t Exist in Isolation — It Takes an Ecosystem to Bring Them to Life!
➡️ Clone Alpha: The Next Leap in Humanoid Robotics
➡️ Will we have a chatGPT moment for Robots?
➡️ ‘Made in China’-Robotics Market Overview
➡️ The Coming Scarcity of Humanity
➡️ The Art and Science of Venture Capital Investing
➡️ Deep Thinkers & Builders in Tech, Science and Bio
➡️ The Science of Networks: From Theory to New Realities

#AI #Robotics #HardTechReads #Startups #DeepTech #Automation