GoKawiil
Tech News
Amazon now operates more than 1 million robots across its warehouses, making it the largest robot operator in the world, according to the company. Despite this automation push, Amazon remains the second-largest corporate employer globally with over 1.5 million full- and part-time human workers, per its 2025 annual report, and plans to expand its robot fleet further through new manufacturing facilities.
A roboticist recounts a debate with a colleague over whether a dishwasher qualifies as a robot, arguing it does not meet technical definitions of manipulation since its spray arms and soap dispensers are mechanisms rather than object-handling tools. She contends the more fundamental issue is that 'robot' was coined by science fiction writer Karel Čapek in his 1920 play and has always been a culturally defined term rather than a strictly technical one.
Walmart has spent billions automating its warehouses but is struggling with tasks as simple as removing items from boxes, according to the Wall Street Journal. After testing multiple robotics vendors, Walmart deployed small wheeled robots in over a dozen warehouses, but these machines cannot handle heavier items like bags of dog food and frequently break down. WSJ sources say the engineers needed to maintain the robots cost more than the unskilled warehouse workers they were meant to replace.
Sara Tashakorinia founded LumenUs last year after her own experience navigating the estimated 570 hours of administrative work involved in settling a deceased spouse's affairs. The platform uses an onboarding process that gathers details about a user's legal, financial and emotional situation, then organizes required tasks—such as filing insurance claims, closing bank accounts, and locating tax forms—by urgency.
Let's Encrypt will cut the default lifespan of its free SSL/TLS certificates from 90 to 64 days starting February 10, 2027, with a testing phase opening October 14, 2026 for admins to trial the change. The certificate authority also plans a further reduction to 45-day defaults in 2028.
NASCAR has introduced new automation tools that provide fans with real-time telemetry and driver communications through its official app during live races. These features are accessible to premium subscribers, offering a more immersive experience beyond traditional viewing. The move aims to deepen fan engagement and improve race coverage.
A smart-home enthusiast who automated most of a house using Home Assistant found that certain devices, like garden lights on a timer, still required manual control via an app that no one in the family wanted to use. To solve this, they commissioned an illustrator to create a hand-drawn floor plan of the house, which was turned into an interactive dashboard showing live states like a flickering fireplace and glowing garden lights.
Recent discussions highlight that for robots to become more common in households, companies need to enhance how they market these devices. The historical portrayal of robots, dating back to Georges Méliès' 1897 film, has often depicted them as dramatic or destructive, which may influence public perception today. To increase acceptance, a shift in narrative around robots is suggested.
Recent graduates are encountering a transformed job landscape where AI handles many routine tasks, reducing hands-on learning opportunities. Despite their enthusiasm, they now face the challenge of developing critical judgment skills while being expected to oversee AI outputs. This shift complicates their transition from education to professional roles.
Many organizations are moving beyond basic automation to integrate AI in a way that enhances overall company performance. Instead of just measuring whether individual AI agents succeed at specific tasks, they are now seeking ways to evaluate how AI contributes to broader strategic goals. This transition reflects a desire to leverage AI as a tool for meaningful business growth.
A Business Insider report finds that many workers are now spending significant time directing, reviewing and correcting AI agents that perform tasks they were originally hired to do, from coding to writing to design. This shift is happening without corresponding raises or promotions, even as companies like Salesforce roll out 'job-ready agents' and executives at firms like Wipro and Daytona describe staff increasingly overseeing multiple bots.
An Entrepreneur contributor argues that as franchise businesses grow, operational complexity—more approvals, spreadsheets and meetings—can accumulate faster than organizations can manage it, even as revenue rises. The piece distinguishes 'growth,' which adds more to a business, from 'scale,' the capability to handle that increase without being overwhelmed.