Latest news with #JeffCardenas
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Humanoid Robots Is The ‘Space Race Of Our Time,' Says Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas
The struggle to be first in humanoid robots is the space race of our time, says Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas, who also says that major upgrades are coming to Apptronik's appropriately-named Apollo robot in 2025. 'It is just amazing to me to hear that there's a hundred companies working on humanoid robots,' Cardenas told me recently on the TechFirst podcast. 'Investors that I talked to two years ago that said humanoids don't make sense. They didn't wanna pay attention to hardware. Now they have a humanoid thesis and hardware's the name of the game.' Apptronik closed a massive $403 million funding round early this year with blue-chip investors including tech titans like Google, massive automotive brand Mercedes-Benz, and venture heavyweights such as B Capital and Capital Factory. The company has also partnered with $30 billion global manufacturing giant Jabil to ramp up production capabilities and achieve mass scalability. 'One of the things that we realized was that if we really are going to ramp to tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of units, we need to really learn about how to do manufacturing right and do it at scale," Cardenas told me. There are two main challenges now in humanoid robots. One is the breakneck race to bring the best, fastest, smartest, most capable and most adaptable humanoid robot to market, and that's dominated by companies like Figure, Tesla, Agility Robotics, Apptronik itself, and about 20 other companies in humanoid robotics. A European manufacturer, Neura Robotics, says it will ship a 'best in world' humanoid robot this summer. The second is to manufacture at scale to get the price affordable. Bank of America says that is likely to happen by 2028, when humanoid robots begin a mass adoption trend for commercial use. Humanoid robots, Bank of America says, can replace 20% of the world's industrial sector jobs: roles that employ perhaps 800 million people today. Service sectors and the home sector will come next, with a project penetration rate of .7 humanoid robots per household, and this phase is projected to kick off in 2034. Figure alone plans to ship 100,000 humanoid robots in the next four years: perhaps optimistic, but intriguing nevertheless. One thing we can say about Apptronik is that it has the capital and the manufacturing relationships to boost its odds of winning. Powered by recent AI breakthroughs, Apptronik is shifting beyond simple tasks like box-moving to advanced dexterous tasks. Cardenas emphasizes a human-centered design philosophy, aiming to create robots people want to be around, and expects meaningful industrial deployment in 2026, with additional use cases in healthcare, hospitality and elder care to follow 3–5 years later. Apollo improvements we'll see this year include upgraded dexterity, modular batteries for 24/7 uptime, and a design robust enough for factory floors or fulfillment centers. While clearly there's the fear of human replacement and job loss, Cardenas sees humanoid robots as helper, not usurpers. 'These are tools to augment human productivity and capability,' he told me. 'I think that's particularly important for humanoid robots is that they're thought of and designed to be human helpers versus something that replaces humans.'
Sky News
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- Sky News
Humanoid machine performs real-world task in significant development in robot revolution
A humanoid machine called Apollo has just taken a tentative, slightly jerky, but significant step forward in the robot revolution. The 5'8" tall robot performed the first public demonstration in a real-world setting of a real-world task - in this case assembling an engine part - entirely autonomously. Clicking two parts together with a twist of its servo-controlled wrists, and handing it to a human colleague is a basic task. But it's also an important moment in the much-hyped world of human-like robot development. "This is a really big day for us," says Jeff Cardenas, chief executive of Apptronik, the US company behind Apollo. "We're excited to show this off, excited for the public to see the robot live and in person." Mercedes-Benz has announced a multimillion-pound investment in Apptronik and is trialling a handful of the humanoid robots at its factory in Berlin and another in Hungary. Investors and industrial firms - particularly carmakers with long experience of using robots in manufacturing - have been closely following the development of human-like robots. The costs of small, lightweight components have fallen as artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and computer vision technology have led to rapid advances in the field of robots that can emulate human movement and tasks. But despite a rising number of increasingly impressive-looking cyborgs being unveiled by tech companies in the US and Asia, few have taken their first steps out of the lab. The Apollo robot looks small and underpowered surrounded by the huge robotic arms that weld, bolt and inspect Mercedes' latest cars at the Berlin-Marienfelde plant. But hosting a robot with a human "form-factor" is more than just a photo opportunity, according to Mercedes-Benz. "There's one big advantage," says Jorg Burzer, head of production and supply chain management at the German carmaker. "A humanoid robot is flexible, so you can basically introduce it to an assembly line or internal logistics or quality inspection... you can basically move it from one place to another." Introducing a new assembly line, or upgrading an old one with traditional robotic arms is a major investment. A robot that can be adapted to a range of tasks and work alongside humans would avoid that investment. With hands and feet like ours, they can operate tools and work in the same workspaces as people. Apollo can lift more than 25kg and potentially perform repetitive tasks that are, in the words of humanoid robot developers, too "dull, dirty or dangerous" for humans. The purpose of the trial is to establish which tasks humanoid robots can usefully do and help improve the machine learning and dexterity required to do more. "We want to try to find out what is really possible," says Mr Burzer. "It's also very important to test how a humanoid robot can be integrated in running production together with our colleagues working here every day." Texas-based Apptronik is reluctant to make claims as bold as some of their rivals. "Everyone's ready for a robot to come into their home and do all of their laundry and all the things that they don't want to do. But it's very early on," says Mr Cardenas. "Take the analogy of the shift to the personal computer. We're in the early '80s so at the very beginning." Investors seem to believe in a robot-dominated future. One recent forecast sees the humanoid market growing 20-fold in the next eight years, with predictions of a population of tens of millions of the machines by 2050. One major hurdle is the AI brains behind them. Apptronik admits a truly "general purpose" robot capable of functioning outside a predictable and controlled environment like a factory won't be possible until computer intelligence can understand the real world like we do. So-called "world models" are very much a work in progress for AI developers. So the important questions, like when humanoid robots will steal our jobs, or whether they will go rogue and rise up against us can wait... for a little while at least.
South China Morning Post
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
US robotics firms push for national strategy to compete with China
US robotics companies are pushing for a national robotics strategy, including establishing a federal office focused on promoting the industry at a time when China is making intelligent robots a national priority. Advertisement Representatives of companies – including Tesla, Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics – on Wednesday met lawmakers in Washington to show off products and push for the US to adopt policies that would boost American companies in a global race to develop the next generation of robots. Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of humanoid start-up Apptronik, of Austin, Texas, pointed out to lawmakers that it was American carmaker General Motors that deployed the first industrial robot at a New Jersey assembly plant in 1961. But the US then ceded its early lead to Japan, which remains a powerhouse of industrial robotics, along with Europe. The next robotics race would be powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and would be 'anybody's to win', Cardenas said in an interview after the closed-door meeting. 'I think the US has a great chance of winning. We're leading in AI, and I think we're building some of the best robots in the world. But we need a national strategy if we're going to continue to build and stay ahead.' A robot walks on stage at an Nvidia event in San Jose, California, last week. Photo: AFP The Association for Advanced Automation said a national strategy would help US companies scale production and drive the adoption of robots as the 'physical manifestation' of AI. The group made it clear that China and several other countries already had a plan in place.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
US robotics companies push for national strategy, including a central office, to compete with China
WASHINGTON (AP) — American robotics companies are pushing for a national robotics strategy, including establishing a federal office focused on promoting the industry at a time when China is making intelligent robots a national priority. Representatives of companies — including Tesla (TSLA), Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics — on Wednesday met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to show off products and push for the United States to adopt policies that would boost American companies in a global race to develop the next generation of robots. Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of humanoid startup Apptronik, of Austin, Texas, pointed out to lawmakers that it was American carmaker General Motors that deployed the first industrial robot at a New Jersey assembly plant in 1961. But the U.S. then ceded its early lead to Japan, which remains a powerhouse of industrial robotics, along with Europe. The next robotics race will be powered by artificial intelligence and will be 'anybody's to win,' Cardenas said in an interview after the closed-door meeting. 'I think the U.S. has a great chance of winning. We're leading in AI, and I think we're building some of the best robots in the world. But we need a national strategy if we're going to continue to build and stay ahead.' The Association for Advanced Automation said a national strategy would help U.S. companies scale production and drive the adoption of robots as the 'physical manifestation' of AI. The group made it clear that China and several other countries already have a plan in place. Without that leadership, "the U.S. will not only lose the robotics race but also the AI race,' the association said in a statement. The group also suggested tax incentives to help drive adoption, along with federally-funded training programs and funding for both academic research and commercial innovation. A new federal robotics office, the association argued, is necessary partly because of 'the increasing global competition in the space' as well as the 'growing sophistication' of the technology. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, said he believes the U.S. is ahead in the game but that the Chinese companies are 'very good' and that China is 'devoting a lot of resources very quickly.' 'So we need to maintain our innovation and maintain our culture of entrepreneurship,' Krishnamoorthi said. Jonathan Chen, manager of carmaker Tesla's Optimus Engineering, which is developing a humanoid robot that CEO Elon Musk hopes to one day send to Mars, said manufacturing capabilities will be key to national competition. 'You create the robots, the question is who's going to scale them?' Chen said. China is the world's largest market for robots that work in factories and other industrial environments, with about 1.8 million robots operating in 2023, according to the Germany-based International Federation of Robotics. Robotics manufacturers in Japan and Europe still dominate the global market for hulking factory robots, though the share of Chinese manufacturers in its domestic market has grown to roughly half, according to IFR. It can be harder to track the progress of emerging robot technologies, such as humanoids or animal-like legged robots, because they are not yet heavily commercialized. Massachusetts-based robotics pioneer Boston Dynamics, now owned by South Korean carmaker Hyundai, relied on U.S. military research grants for its first few decades of work on agile robots that can crawl and walk. China now aims to integrate robotics with other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, as the country is positioning humanoid robots as a frontier technology and has approved a state-backed venture capital fund of $138 billion to focus on robotics, AI and other cutting-edge innovations. Earlier this year, the state broadcaster showcased dancing robots at the annual Chinese New Year gala. The army of humanoid robots by the Chinese robotics company Unitree, a Boston Dynamics rival, waved arms and twirled handkerchiefs, boosting national pride that China has taken great strides in the development of humanoid robots to rival those in the United States. In an annual work report, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the country would prioritize combining digital technologies and the country's manufacturing and market strengths, including developing intelligent robots along with connected electric vehicles. In both the U.S. and China, humanoid robots that combine artificial intelligence with a human-like body have attracted public interest. But they also invite skepticism from some who follow the robotics industry. 'We don't like humanoid robots very much because they're silly,' said Bill Ray, a UK-based analyst for market research group Gartner. 'They look fantastic, but they're not very practical.' Ray instead is looking for more applications of what he describes as 'polyfunctional robots' such as wheeled machines that can pick up and carry heavy packages through airports but don't look at all like people. He doesn't think government support will make much of a difference in which country takes the lead. 'In the political climate at the moment, we're not expecting to see fleets of Chinese robots working in American factories or fleets of American robots working in Chinese factories,' Ray said. 'I think that's a given.' Cardenas, whose company and its Apollo robot has backing from tech giants Nvidia and Google, said a national strategy in the U.S. could help in incentivizing robot adoption, while also promoting the education of a new generation of robotics engineers and scientists. 'Humanoids are going to play a big role both practically and in capturing the imagination of the public,' Cardenas said. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Hill
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Hill
US robotics companies push for national strategy, including a central office, to compete with China
WASHINGTON (AP) — American robotics companies are pushing for a national robotics strategy, including establishing a federal office focused on promoting the industry at a time when China is making intelligent robots a national priority. Representatives of companies — including Tesla, Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics — on Wednesday met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to show off products and push for the United States to adopt policies that would boost American companies in a global race to develop the next generation of robots. Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of humanoid startup Apptronik, of Austin, Texas, pointed out to lawmakers that it was American carmaker General Motors that deployed the first industrial robot at a New Jersey assembly plant in 1961. But the U.S. then ceded its early lead to Japan, which remains a powerhouse of industrial robotics, along with Europe. The next robotics race will be powered by artificial intelligence and will be 'anybody's to win,' Cardenas said in an interview after the closed-door meeting. 'I think the U.S. has a great chance of winning. We're leading in AI, and I think we're building some of the best robots in the world. But we need a national strategy if we're going to continue to build and stay ahead.' The Association for Advanced Automation said a national strategy would help U.S. companies scale production and drive the adoption of robots as the 'physical manifestation' of AI. The group made it clear that China and several other countries already have a plan in place. Without that leadership, 'the U.S. will not only lose the robotics race but also the AI race,' the association said in a statement. The group also suggested tax incentives to help drive adoption, along with federally-funded training programs and funding for both academic research and commercial innovation. A new federal robotics office, the association argued, is necessary partly because of 'the increasing global competition in the space' as well as the 'growing sophistication' of the technology. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, said he believes the U.S. is ahead in the game but that the Chinese companies are 'very good' and that China is 'devoting a lot of resources very quickly.' 'So we need to maintain our innovation and maintain our culture of entrepreneurship,' Krishnamoorthi said. Jonathan Chen, manager of carmaker Tesla's Optimus Engineering, which is developing a humanoid robot that CEO Elon Musk hopes to one day send to Mars, said manufacturing capabilities will be key to national competition. 'You create the robots, the question is who's going to scale them?' Chen said. China is the world's largest market for robots that work in factories and other industrial environments, with about 1.8 million robots operating in 2023, according to the Germany-based International Federation of Robotics. Robotics manufacturers in Japan and Europe still dominate the global market for hulking factory robots, though the share of Chinese manufacturers in its domestic market has grown to roughly half, according to IFR. It can be harder to track the progress of emerging robot technologies, such as humanoids or animal-like legged robots, because they are not yet heavily commercialized. Massachusetts-based robotics pioneer Boston Dynamics, now owned by South Korean carmaker Hyundai, relied on U.S. military research grants for its first few decades of work on agile robots that can crawl and walk. China now aims to integrate robotics with other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, as the country is positioning humanoid robots as a frontier technology and has approved a state-backed venture capital fund of $138 billion to focus on robotics, AI and other cutting-edge innovations. Earlier this year, the state broadcaster showcased dancing robots at the annual Chinese New Year gala. The army of humanoid robots by the Chinese robotics company Unitree, a Boston Dynamics rival, waved arms and twirled handkerchiefs, boosting national pride that China has taken great strides in the development of humanoid robots to rival those in the United States. In an annual work report, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the country would prioritize combining digital technologies and the country's manufacturing and market strengths, including developing intelligent robots along with connected electric vehicles. In both the U.S. and China, humanoid robots that combine artificial intelligence with a human-like body have attracted public interest. But they also invite skepticism from some who follow the robotics industry. 'We don't like humanoid robots very much because they're silly,' said Bill Ray, a UK-based analyst for market research group Gartner. 'They look fantastic, but they're not very practical.' Ray instead is looking for more applications of what he describes as 'polyfunctional robots' such as wheeled machines that can pick up and carry heavy packages through airports but don't look at all like people. He doesn't think government support will make much of a difference in which country takes the lead. 'In the political climate at the moment, we're not expecting to see fleets of Chinese robots working in American factories or fleets of American robots working in Chinese factories,' Ray said. 'I think that's a given.' Cardenas, whose company and its Apollo robot has backing from tech giants Nvidia and Google, said a national strategy in the U.S. could help in incentivizing robot adoption, while also promoting the education of a new generation of robotics engineers and scientists. 'Humanoids are going to play a big role both practically and in capturing the imagination of the public,' Cardenas said.
