Meta has removed language from its commercial terms that critics said could allow it to scrape content from websites, including news sites, to train its AI. The clause had stated Meta could use content from domains and URLs to develop and improve its products. Meta spokesperson Daniel Roberts said the terms were clarified to show they only applied to ads and business products, and that the change does not alter how Meta's web crawlers operate.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-17
Beijing-based NeodraDynamics Robotics showcased Neo1, a 13-foot, 1.2-ton humanoid robot, at the China International Industry Fair. The company says its hydraulic-electric hybrid drive gives it 41 degrees of freedom, a lifting capacity over 1,100 pounds, and micrometer-level positioning accuracy, with resistance to underwater pressure and harsh conditions.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-16
Meta is updating its commercial and self-serve ad terms, effective October 30th, with language authorizing it to deploy web crawlers and bots on domains "associated" with businesses using its advertising platforms, including news publishers. The terms state Meta can use that content to develop, improve, research, and train its AI products. Meta spokesperson Daniel Roberts says the move simply consolidates existing ad terms and denies any change to how the company uses web crawlers.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-16
South Korea's industry ministry approved a regulatory sandbox exemption allowing 20 bipedal robots from robotics firm Robros to operate alongside human workers without the barriers normally required under industrial safety rules. The robots will be deployed at Nepes, Sungwoo Hitech, HD Hyundai Samho, and Delivery Lab, performing tasks like cleaning semiconductor components, positioning car parts, stacking brackets, and moving logistics packaging. The trials will follow additional safety standards, and data from them will inform a broader revision of robot safety regulations.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-15
Industrial Next, a San Francisco startup presenting at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, unveiled self-contained robotic stations that use proprietary AI foundation models to combine vision, task context and motion, allowing production lines to be retooled in minutes instead of weeks without manual reprogramming. The company also announced a partnership with BMW Group Technology Office to evaluate its dexterous manipulation technology for manufacturing use.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
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.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-12
A research paper describes a new adaptive motion planning and tracking approach intended to help humanoid robots perform agile, sports-like movements. The work, shared via an industry research hub requiring registration, focuses on enabling robots to adjust their motion in real time to track dynamic targets, similar to a skilled athlete.
content.knowledgehub.wiley.com
· 2026-10-12
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.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-10
At MIT's Future Fest, longtime MIT faculty member Sherry Turkle discussed her new book examining why people instinctively anthropomorphize robots and chatbots. She notes that even brief exchanges with 'relational artifacts' make people feel cared for, prompting them to reciprocate that care. The piece also recounts a TechCrunch reporter's visit to MIT's CSAIL lab, where $50,000 Unitree humanoid robots drew similarly instinctive, human-like greetings from visitors.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-09
In an interview with Gizmodo, former NBA star and tech investor Shaquille O'Neal discussed his views on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, including commentary on robots capable of dunking. O'Neal said he would be willing to play basketball against an AI-driven robot.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-10-08
Nvidia introduced Halos for Robotics in 2026, a safety architecture designed to enable secure deployment of autonomous robots and humanoids. The system includes hardware like the IGX Thor module, which integrates safety functions directly into the silicon. This move expands Nvidia’s safety solutions beyond autonomous vehicles to broader physical AI applications.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-08
Rohit Prasad, a veteran Amazon AI executive instrumental in developing Alexa, has been appointed as the new CEO of Boston Dynamics. His leadership comes as the robotics company prepares to scale up the production of humanoid robots.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-08
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