This Week's Good ReadsForbes — Giving AI A Body: Why Robots Are Evolving So Quickly Today

‍Forbes explores how declining hardware costs—like lidar sensors dropping from $75,000 to hundreds of dollars—and AI improvements are accelerating robot development, enabling economic scalability, warehouse applications like Amazon's, and hybrid on-device/cloud processing, while noting safety challenges in unstructured human environments. Read the analysis here.

‍AP News — Humanoid Robots Take Center Stage at Silicon Valley Summit, but Skepticism Remains

AP News covers the Humanoids Summit in Mountain View, where AI is boosting humanoid robots for tasks like walking and folding clothes, with demos from Disney and startups, China's lead via government support, U.S. investor hype, and ongoing doubts about dexterity, touch, and real-world viability. Read the article here.

MIT News — New Control System Teaches Soft Robots the Art of Staying Safe

MIT News details a new CSAIL-developed control framework using high-order barrier and Lyapunov functions to ensure soft robots deform safely, maintain precise forces, and interact with humans or objects without harm, with applications in healthcare for surgery, industry for fragile handling, and homes for caregiving. Read the briefing here.

Robotics Companies Funding

• ChemLex – $45 M, Series A round (Dec 7–8, 2025), led by Granite Asia (PitchBook). Singapore-based AI-for-Science startup building a self-driving lab and "design–make–test–learn" loop for drug discovery.
• ZS Robotics – Several Million USD, Series A+ round (Dec 12, 2025), led by Yinfeng Capital (PitchBook). Shanghai-based developer of four-way shuttle robots and the ZSmart platform for high-density warehouse automation.
• Medra – $52 M, Series A round (Dec 11, 2025), led by HUMAN CAPITAL (Tracxn). San Francisco-based developer of "physical AI" robotics that automate wet lab experimentation and drug discovery workflows.
• Mach – $7 M, Seed round (Dec 2025), led by The Venture Collective with Next Level Ventures and Midwest Growth Partners (PitchBook). Iowa-based provider of off-road autonomy solutions for agriculture and defense OEMs.
• Neubility – $17 M, Series B round (Dec 2025), led by Korea Development Bank and Envisioning Partners (Crunchbase). Seoul-based developer of camera-based autonomous delivery and patrol robots scaling RaaS platforms worldwide.
• Chemify – $1.6 M, Grant (Dec 2025), provided by the Gates Foundation (Tracxn). Glasgow-based digital chemistry company using "Chemputation" to digitize molecule creation, following a recent $50M+ Series B.
• BrainChip – $25 M, Capital Raise (Dec 10, 2025), supported by LDA Capital and institutional investors (Tracxn). Sydney-based developer of the Akida neuromorphic AI processor IP for ultra-low-power edge devices.
• Alva Industries – Multi-million Euro, Strategic Investment (Dec 2025), led by Samsung Electro-Mechanics via Samsung Ventures (Tracxn). Trondheim-based developer of FiberPrinting technology for ultra-thin, high-torque electric motors used in robotics.
• Rotostitch – $1 M, Pre-seed round (Dec 8, 2025), led by Boost VC and Nova Threshold (Crunchbase). San Francisco-based startup automating textile manufacturing with proprietary hardware and software to reduce waste and lead times.
• Blue Current – $80 M+, Series D Extension (Dec 8, 2025), led by Amazon (Crunchbase). Hayward-based developer of silicon solid-state batteries for EVs and stationary storage, using fully dry electrolytes.
• DEEP Robotics – $70 M, Series C round (Dec 9, 2025), led by CMB International Capital and Beijing Robot Fund (Tracxn). Hangzhou-based developer of quadruped (Jueying) and humanoid robots for industrial inspection and emergency response.

Robotics News

• iRobot Files For Bankruptcy, But Roomba Robots Will Keep Cleaning Floors Unabated — iRobot, the maker of Roomba robot vacuums, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after struggling to sustain operations independently, following the failed Amazon acquisition blocked by European regulators. The company will transition to private ownership through a purchase by China-based Picea Robotics, its primary contract manufacturer, ensuring no disruptions to existing Roomba functionality, app support, or product availability for consumers. BGR
• Nauticus Robotics Dives into Deep-Sea Rare Earth Mineral Exploration — Nauticus Robotics Inc. has secured a USD 250 million equity credit line to fund its expansion into deep-sea rare earth and mineral exploration, which is essential for clean energy, electronics, and defense supply chains. This funding will also support strategic acquisitions to enhance its autonomous systems, with the flagship Aquanaut robot enabling underwater operations like pipeline repairs and seabed mapping, positioning the company at the forefront of sustainable subsea resource development. Telecom Review Middle East
• MercadoLibre (MELI) to Use Digit Robots in Texas Warehouse — MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ: MELI) has entered into a commercial agreement with Agility Robotics to deploy the Digit humanoid robot in its San Antonio, Texas warehouse, initially to assist with commerce fulfillment tasks. The partnership aims to automate repetitive and physically demanding jobs to enhance worker safety, reduce labor gaps, and boost productivity across MercadoLibre's Latin American operations, while allowing employees to focus on higher-value work. Insider Monkey
• ALM Ventures Announces New $100M Fund Focused on Humanoid Robots, Embodied AI, and Spatial Intelligence — ALM Ventures has launched a $100 million early-stage fund targeting seed and pre-seed investments in humanoid robots, embodied AI, and spatial intelligence, aiming to build concentrated ownership and support follow-on financing as these technologies approach commercial viability. The fund's investment thesis covers humanoid platforms, motion systems, spatial reasoning, world models, and deployment infrastructure, with ten initial investments made in companies such as Sanctuary AI, Weave Robotics, and others during its formation. The AI Insider
• Robotics Start-up Buildroid AI to Bring Model-based Automated Bricklaying to US Jobsites — Buildroid AI, a U.S.-based construction robotics startup, is set to launch its simulation-first platform in the U.S. market in 2026, following successful pilots in the UAE and $2 million in funding, using Nvidia Omniverse-powered digital twins and BIM models to optimize multi-robot bricklaying workflows for improved efficiency. The technology focuses on blockwork and partition-wall installation, integrating various robots in a hardware-agnostic system that guarantees performance through shared-savings models with contractors. Engineering News-Record
• 1X struck a deal to send its ‘home’ humanoids to factories and warehouses — Robotics company 1X announced a strategic partnership with investor EQT to supply up to 10,000 of its Neo humanoid robots—originally designed for consumer home use—to EQT's portfolio companies for industrial applications in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics between 2026 and 2030. This deal marks a shift from the robot's marketed personal use case, despite its $20,000 price and privacy concerns like human operators viewing through its eyes, as industrial adoption is seen as more feasible than consumer uptake. TechCrunch
• AlphaVest Acquisition Corp and AMC Corporation Announce Closing of Business Combination — AlphaVest Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company, and AMC Corporation, a security and safety technology solutions company, have completed their business combination, renaming the combined entity AMC Robotics Corporation, which is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker "AMCI" starting December 10, 2025. The transaction includes over $10 million raised through private financing and cash from AlphaVest's trust, positioning the company to accelerate commercialization of its AI-powered patrol and incident response robot for the warehousing market. GlobeNewswire
• Google DeepMind Will Open a Robotic AI Lab in the UK to Discover New Materials — Google DeepMind is opening its first automated research lab in the UK next year to discover new materials for applications like batteries, semiconductors, medical imaging, solar panels, and chips, using robotics to conduct experiments with minimal human intervention. This initiative is part of a broader partnership with the British government, which includes tailoring AI models like Gemini for scientists, teachers, and public employees, providing priority access to scientific models, and sharing data with the UK AI Security Institute. Bloomberg
• Circus Wins First Customer From the Automotive Industry For AI Robotics Integration — Circus SE announced that Mercedes-Benz Gastronomie GmbH will deploy its CA-1 autonomous meal production robot to support canteen operations at the Sindelfingen plant starting summer 2026, enhancing capacity during peak times and ensuring continuous service for shift operations. The AI-powered system integrates robotics and software for fully autonomous meal production, minimizing food waste and supporting sustainability goals through real-time analytics and demand planning. Business Wire
• Nissan and Wayve Sign Definitive Agreements to Deliver Next-Generation Driver Assistance Technology — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Wayve have signed definitive agreements to integrate Wayve's embodied AI technology, including the 'Wayve AI Driver,' into Nissan's next-generation ProPILOT series for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and point-to-point driving. This collaboration aims to deploy these AI-driven features in mass-produced vehicles worldwide, starting with a model launch in Japan in fiscal year 2027, enhancing safety and convenience across diverse markets like Japan and North America. Nissan Global Newsroom
• Inside Aneli Capital’s €35M bid to put the Baltics on the deeptech map — Aneli Capital, a new €35 million venture capital fund based in Vilnius, aims to invest in 20 deeptech startups across Central and Eastern Europe over the next five years, focusing on sectors like ICT, robotics, space, photonics, and energy. Backed by the National Lithuanian Development Bank (ILTE) and Poland’s Magna Polonia, the fund emphasizes early-stage partnerships, hands-on mentorship, and support for founders demonstrating real traction and growth, with a diversity-friendly investment policy that prioritizes strong teams regardless of gender. Tech Funding News (TFN)
• Arabian Gulf Investment and Green Harbor Investment ink $500M deal to boost AI and robotics — UAE-based Arabian Gulf Investment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese firm Green Harbor Investment to establish a $500 million investment fund targeting local and global IPOs, with a priority on advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics sectors. The fund will focus on pre-IPO opportunities, private equity in high-growth tech companies, AI infrastructure and applications, as well as robotics systems and enabling technologies. Gulf News
• SS Innovations submits Mantra surgical robot to FDA for clearance — SS Innovations announced the submission of a 510(k) premarket notification to the FDA for its Mantra surgical robot on December 5, 2025, seeking clearance for indications including general, urological, colorectal, gynecological, and cardiac surgery. The modular system features 3D vision, an open-console design, superior ergonomics, and machine learning for enhanced safety and efficiency, with potential U.S. market entry in 2026 following prior global milestones like robotic cardiac surgeries and telesurgeries. MassDevice

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