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Wired AI· This weekTechnology

Jensen Huang’s Vision for Europe Runs on Plug-In Data Centers

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has set out a vision for Europe built on robotics, AI agents and modular data centres. Speaking at Nvidia's conference in Berlin, he said Europe could both use and produce artificial intelligence. His first major announcement was a pre-assembled data centre unit called the DSX Pod, which he said could be running within 14 days. Huang also named humanoid robotics as the next major industry and said Europe was well placed to lead it. Two Greenpeace protesters interrupted the speech with a banner.

Jensen Huang’s Vision for Europe Runs on Plug-In Data Centers
TechCrunch AI· This weekTechnology

Ex-Nvidia-turned-VC Amulya Vishwanath: ‘Physical AI is in its LEGO era’

Amulya Vishwanath, founder of venture firm Techable Ventures, says robotics is not yet at its ChatGPT moment. Speaking to TechCrunch's Equity, she said the industry is in a LEGO era, with basic components such as robotic hands and actuators being built. She expects these pieces to eventually combine into more advanced machines. Vishwanath also said talent will be critical, adding that her firm helps connect founders with skilled workers. Her firm's focus is physical AI, a field she entered after nearly seven years as a product marketer at Nvidia.

Ex-Nvidia-turned-VC Amulya Vishwanath: ‘Physical AI is in its LEGO era’
TechCrunch AI· This weekTechnology

Eka is worth $1.45B thanks to a physical AI model that has experts raving

Eka Robotics has closed a $150 million Series A funding round that values the startup at $1.45 billion after money is added. The round was led by venture funds a16z and F-Prime. The company's robot can pick up about 1,500 objects in an hour and reliably grasps them more than 95 per cent of the time. Its model relies on force sensing rather than vision alone, letting the robot adjust its grip on delicate items such as a raspberry.

Eka is worth $1.45B thanks to a physical AI model that has experts raving
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MyCity Logan· A while agoBusiness

Robots, drones and big ideas land in Underwood

A new robotics academy in Underwood is giving young students hands-on experience with machines, drones and coding. The XROBOT Academy opened in September at 170 North Road and takes students aged seven to 18. Owner Alex Li says students learn best through practical projects rather than set assignments. Students write code by hand before they are allowed to use AI tools, and must check any AI-generated code themselves. Li says the final review of technology must always be done by people.

Robots, drones and big ideas land in Underwood
TechCrunch AI· A while agoTechnology

Physical AI is more than robots, says the Nvidia veteran now investing in it

Amulya Vishwanath, who spent seven years in product marketing at NVIDIA, says robotics is in its early Lego era. She argues that basic building blocks such as actuators, robotic hands, software and safety standards are still being rebuilt. This view differs from those who expect a single general foundation model to trigger a ChatGPT-style breakthrough. Vishwanath, founder and managing partner of Techable VC, defines physical AI as more than robots, covering molecules, materials, medicines and factory machines. The discussion appears on TechCrunch's Equity podcast.

Physical AI is more than robots, says the Nvidia veteran now investing in it
TechCrunch AI· A while agoTechnology

An Nvidia insider-turned-VC on why robotics hasn’t hit its ChatGPT moment, yet

Amulya Vishwanath, a former NVIDIA product marketing leader, says robotics is in its early "Lego era", with core components such as actuators, robotic hands, software and safety standards still being developed. Her view contrasts with claims by General Intuition CEO Pim de Witte that a single general foundation model will soon make specialised robotics work redundant. In a TechCrunch Equity podcast episode, Vishwanath discussed where she is investing as founder and managing partner of Techable VC, which backs physical AI across robotics, materials science and life sciences.

An Nvidia insider-turned-VC on why robotics hasn’t hit its ChatGPT moment, yet
Maribyrnong Star· A while agoSport

Seabrook students’ STEM success

Year 6 students at Seabrook Primary School have won regional, state and national titles in a robotics competition. The team won the regional RoboCup Junior event in Geelong in July and the Victorian State Championships in September. Qualifying for the 2026 national championships in Canberra, they placed first and second in the Simple Simon Soccer contest, where students build robots that play soccer. Emerging technologies learning specialist Michele Le praised the students' growing skills and teamwork.

Seabrook students’ STEM success
TechCrunch AI· A while agoTechnology

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Day 2

Day 2 of TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs at Moscone West in San Francisco, offering an Expo Hall with more than 300 startups, live pitches, and AI-powered matchmaking for a community of over 10,000 attendees. Today's themes include artificial intelligence, robotics, AI hardware, public safety, and venture investment, with speakers from Nvidia, Waabi, Flock Safety, and Ricursive Intelligence. Stage sessions, roundtables, and networking lounges are available with an eligible pass, and organisers are offering 50 per cent off the walk-up rate. Side events are planned for the evening, with individual listings noting entry requirements and RSVP details.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Day 2
TechCrunch AI· A while agoTechnology

Industrial Next wants factory robots to switch tasks in minutes, not weeks

San Francisco startup Industrial Next says its AI-driven robotic stations can retool a production line in minutes rather than weeks, without traditional programming. The company announced a partnership with the BMW Group Technology Office to evaluate its dexterous manipulation technology for manufacturing. Founded in 2021 by Lukas Pankau and Allen Pan, both former Tesla engineers, the company trains its robots in detailed simulated environments. Industrial Next says some of its workstations already handle delicate tasks in making a popular smartphone. The founders say they aim to eventually automate building a full car end to end.

Industrial Next wants factory robots to switch tasks in minutes, not weeks
TechCrunch AI· A while agoTechnology

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Day 1

Day 2 of TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs at Moscone West in San Francisco, offering an Expo Hall with more than 300 startups, live pitches, and AI-powered matchmaking for a community of over 10,000 attendees. Today's themes include artificial intelligence, robotics, AI hardware, public safety, and venture investment, with speakers from Nvidia, Waabi, Flock Safety, and Ricursive Intelligence. Stage sessions, roundtables, and networking lounges are available with an eligible pass, and organisers are offering 50 per cent off the walk-up rate. Side events are planned for the evening, with individual listings noting entry requirements and RSVP details.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Day 1
Ars Technica· A while agoTechnology

Amazon has over 1 million robot workers. What’s next for human employees?

Amazon operates more than one million robots in its warehouses, more than any other organisation. The company also employs more than 1.5 million full-time and part-time human workers. Amazon says its robots take on the most dangerous tasks, but a 2025 study found robotic fulfilment centres had fewer severe injuries and more strain-related injuries. Researchers linked this to a faster pace of work set by robots. Amazon says it has created new technician roles, while internal documents reported by The New York Times suggest the robotics push could reduce future hiring.

Amazon has over 1 million robot workers. What’s next for human employees?
TechCrunch AI· A while agoEnvironment

Danu Robotics’ fight to build a better recycling robot

Danu Robotics founder Amy Ma has developed a recycling robot called H.E.R.O. to improve waste sorting. The Edinburgh, Scotland-based company uses AI to enhance the robot's software, offering a cheaper and more efficient alternative to competitors. Danu has secured $5 million in funding and has over 200 potential customers in its sales pipeline, aiming to enter the $20 billion recycling market in Europe and North America.

Danu Robotics’ fight to build a better recycling robot
Ars Technica· A while agoTechnology

Nvidia's big bet on physical AI aims for safer robotaxis, humanoid robots

Nvidia's Halos operating system enhances safety in robotics and autonomous vehicles by continuously monitoring hardware and software components. It isolates critical tasks and detects corrupted data through its Holoscan Sensor Bridge. The system also offers simulation tools and an inspection lab for rapid safety feedback. Adapting Halos for robotics required addressing varied safety definitions across different environments. Robots must navigate complex settings, often halting to assess potential hazards in unstructured spaces like warehouses and hospitals.

Nvidia's big bet on physical AI aims for safer robotaxis, humanoid robots
The Grazier· A while agoTechnology

Robot that fills its own spray tank wins Henty Machine of the Year

SwarmFarm Robotics' AutoFill, a standalone refilling unit for autonomous spray bots, has won the 2026 Henty Machine of the Year award. The system allows robots to mix, measure, and load chemicals without human help, improving safety and efficiency. SwarmFarm has already deployed 14 AutoFill units to commercial farms, with 30 more set for delivery. The company, founded by grain growers near Emerald in Central Queensland, builds lightweight autonomous robots for tasks such as spraying, weeding, and mowing.

Robot that fills its own spray tank wins Henty Machine of the Year

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