Robotics Special: Tesla pivots to AI and robotics

Welcome back, Superhuman. While other companies scramble to launch the first fully functional, factory-ready humanoid robot, NYC’s Fauna Robotics is playing a different game, emerging from stealth and dropping a humanoid platform that’s already turning heads across the industry.

WHAT’S NEXT

The most important news and breakthroughs in robotics this week

1. Tesla axes its flagship EVs and pivots to robotics: The company announced a $2B investment in xAI while killing off the Model S and Model X entirely to free up factory space for humanoid robots. The move comes as Tesla posted its first-ever annual revenue decline (down 3% to $94.8B last year) while capital expenditures are set to balloon past $17B in 2026. The Cybercab reportedly remains on track for production this year, though Musk warned a memory chip shortage could derail ambitious AI plans.

2. Fauna emerges from stealth with humanoid platform for US developers: New York-based Fauna Robotics just launched Sprout, positioning it as the first actively shipping US humanoid developer platform. The sage-green, foam-wrapped humanoid targets roughly the same price point as China's Unitree but is built for safety-first operation in homes and schools. Fauna is betting Sprout can spark a smartphone-style software ecosystem for humanoid developers. Watch Sprout in action here.

3. Figure AI drops its "most capable humanoid model yet": In a video that’s generated significant buzz on social media, Figure AI showcased its Helix 02 model autonomously loading and unloading a kitchen dishwasher, in what it claims is the most complex manipulation task ever demonstrated on a humanoid. The single neural network is trained on 1,000+ hours of human motion data to execute 61 fluidly coordinated actions from pixels to whole-body movement.

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ROBOTS IN ACTION

How robots are transforming the world around us

🚀 Up and Away: Chinese robotics startup Engine AI has partnered with Beijing Interstellar to send its PM01 humanoid robot to space, in what could make it the world's first robot astronaut. The robot can reportedly handle extreme temperatures, radiation, and microgravity while tackling risky tasks like space station maintenance and long-duration monitoring missions.

🧱 Brick and Bots: Dubai Municipality has kicked off an ambitious project to construct a residential villa using only automated systems, bringing together 25+ technology firms and universities in an international consortium. The initiative is in line with the city’s broader strategy of moving 70% of construction off-site by 2030, while automating 70% of factory production.

❄️ All Clear: Tech reviewer Tom Moloughney used Yarbo's GPS-guided robot to tackle Winter Storm Fern, methodically clearing a 6,000-square-foot New Jersey driveway without any human intervention. The robot made its way past slopes and curves, returning to its charging dock when needed and automatically resuming after 75-minute charge cycles. Watch it in action here.

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

Everything else you need to know this week

Here are the biggest developments in the robotics space that you should know about:

• Waymo is under a federal safety investigation after one of its robotaxis struck a child during school drop-off in Santa Monica.

• Toronto-based Waabi has secured $1B in funding (reportedly Canada’s largest-ever raise) to accelerate physical AI across autonomous trucking and robotaxis.

• RobCo, a German startup, picked up $100M in a Lightspeed-led funding round, pushing its valuation above $500M as it plans an expansion into the US market.

• Hyundai has begun testing Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoids at its Georgia factory, paving the way for a planned rollout of up to 30k robots a year by 2028.

• Anduril has launched the AI Grand Prix, an autonomous drone-racing contest where top programmers compete for cash prizes and fast-tracked jobs.

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ROBOT OF THE WEEK

A robot that caught our eye this week

RheoFit has dropped the A1 Robotic Massage Roller, a hands-free robotic roller designed for full-body muscle recovery. It delivers a deep rolling massage with interchangeable heads and app-based AI modes that adapt to muscle stiffness. Watch it in action here.

You can check it out here.

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Until next time,

Zain and the Superhuman AI team