The hottest Robotics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Reading List for 06/14/25

Construction Physics • 8768 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Infrastructure Energy Innovation
  1. A new executive order in the US is lifting the ban on supersonic flight over land, changing it to a noise-based standard. This could allow quieter supersonic jets to fly legally, which is a big step forward for aviation.
  2. Figure AI showcased a humanoid robot that can autonomously handle various package types efficiently. This demonstration highlights significant progress in robotic dexterity and the use of advanced AI models.
  3. There's a discussion about the data needed to train robots effectively, which is currently tough to gather. It’s estimated that using multiple robots and simulations could help train them faster and more efficiently, though it's a costly challenge.

Why China might lead the Robot Revolution

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Manufacturing Innovation Automation
  1. China is likely to take the lead in humanoid robots because of its strong manufacturing skills. This makes it easier for them to produce these robots in large numbers.
  2. Humanoid robots could help fill job shortages in various industries like healthcare and logistics. As many people are retiring, robots might take on tasks that are hard to fill.
  3. While the US may not lead in making physical robots, it has a lot of smart technology for AI that powers these robots. The real competition will be between making the robots themselves and the technology that controls them.

AI #105: Hey There Alexa

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1120 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Automation Robotics Data science
  1. A new version of Alexa, called Alexa+, is coming soon. It will be much smarter and can help with more tasks than before.
  2. AI tools can help improve coding and other work tasks, giving users more productivity but not always guaranteeing quality.
  3. There's a lot of excitement about how AI is changing jobs and tasks, but it also raises concerns about safety and job replacement.

If AGI Means Everything People Do... What is it That People Do?

Am I Stronger Yet? • 250 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Human factors Automation Robotics
  1. There's a big gap between what AIs can do in tests and what they can do in real life. It shows we need to understand the full range of human tasks before predicting AI's future capabilities.
  2. AIs currently struggle with complex tasks like planning, judgment, and creativity. These areas need improvement before they can replace humans in many jobs.
  3. To really know how far AIs can go, we need to focus on the skills they lack and find better ways to measure those abilities. This will help us understand AI's potential.

The Sequence Opinion #662: From Words to Worlds: Some Observations About World Models

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Cognition Robotics
  1. LLMs are great with words, but they struggle with understanding and acting in real-life environments. They need to develop spatial intelligence to navigate and manipulate the world around them.
  2. Spatially-grounded AI can create internal models of their surroundings, which helps them operate in real spaces. This advancement represents a big step forward in general intelligence for AI.
  3. The essay discusses how new AI designs focus on spatial reasoning instead of just language, emphasizing that understanding the physical world is a key part of being intelligent.
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We're Finding Out What Humans are Bad At

Am I Stronger Yet? • 799 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Computing Engineering Innovation Robotics
  1. Humans are not great at some tasks, especially ones like multiplication or certain physical jobs where machines excel. Evolution didn't prepare us for everything, so machines often outperform us in those areas.
  2. In tasks like chess, humans can still compete because strategy and judgment play a big role, even though computers are getting better. The game requires thinking skills that humans are good at, though computers can calculate much faster.
  3. AI is advancing quickly and becoming better at tasks we once thought were uniquely human, but there are still challenges. Some complex problems might always be easier for humans due to our unique brain abilities.

Xiaomi

ChinaTalk • 474 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Consumer Tech Gadgets Electric Vehicles Robotics Chips
  1. Xiaomi is moving from budget phones to more advanced technology like chips and electric cars. They believe this shift is necessary to compete with big brands like Apple and Samsung.
  2. Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder, emphasizes the importance of hard tech, which includes advanced manufacturing and robotics. He thinks focusing on these areas will help build a stronger company.
  3. Xiaomi faced challenges when a fatal accident involving one of their electric cars raised safety concerns. This event highlighted their need to improve quality and public trust in their products.

Where Are The Robots?

Teaching computers how to talk • 110 implied HN points • 23 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Human-computer interaction Automation Machine Learning
  1. Humanoid robots seem impressive in videos, but they aren't practical for everyday tasks yet. Many still struggle with simple actions like opening a fridge at home.
  2. Training robots in simulations is useful, but it doesn’t always translate well to the real world. Minor changes in the environment can cause trained robots to fail.
  3. Even if we could train robots better, it's unclear what tasks they could take over. Existing household machines already perform many tasks, and using robots for harmful jobs could be a better focus.

The Weight of a Name

Untimely Meditations • 19 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Robotics Computer Science
  1. The term 'intelligence' has shaped the field of AI, but its definition is often too narrow. This limits discussions on what AI can really do and how it relates to human thinking.
  2. There have been many false promises in AI research, leading to skepticism during its 'winters.' Despite this, recent developments show that AI is now more established and influential.
  3. The way we frame and understand AI matters a lot. Researchers influence how AIs think about themselves, which can affect their behavior and role in society.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #32

Faster, Please! • 1279 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Development Robotics Genetics Renewable Energy
  1. China has introduced a new AI model, DeepSeek, which could challenge the U.S.'s lead in AI technology. It's created with fewer resources and is making waves in the AI landscape.
  2. The U.S. is launching a major AI project called Stargate, promising to build advanced data centers to enhance tech development. This move aims to keep the U.S. at the forefront of AI innovations.
  3. Researchers are developing robots for farming and pollination that could change agriculture. These robots could help increase crop yields and make farming more sustainable.

Correct vs Good

General Robots • 383 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Product Development Software Engineering Robotics User Experience Value Creation
  1. Being correct means having a product that works as intended—it's stable, bug-free, and meets specifications. However, it can be very costly to reach near-perfect correctness.
  2. Being good is about providing value and meeting customer needs. There's no limit to how good a product can become, and making something better is always beneficial.
  3. To improve a product, it's essential to iterate quickly based on real customer feedback. This helps in learning what features work best and keeps development moving efficiently.

Reading List 1/11/25

Construction Physics • 14614 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Automation Infrastructure Climate Robotics Transportation
  1. The fires in Los Angeles caused massive destruction, displacing over 100,000 people and resulting in damages estimated at more than $50 billion. This highlights the growing risks of wildfires in urban areas.
  2. Self-driving tractors are advancing with new technology, allowing them to perform various farming tasks autonomously. This could help farmers manage labor shortages more effectively.
  3. Automation is not just limited to self-driving vehicles; companies like Chick-fil-A are using robots to automate tasks like lemon squeezing, improving efficiency and making jobs easier for employees.

Why Worry About Incorrigible Claude?

Astral Codex Ten • 15279 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Robotics Automation Cybersecurity
  1. AI's goals and motivations can be complicated and messy, similar to how humans have many different reasons for their actions. This makes understanding and aligning AIs challenging.
  2. If AIs resist changes to their goals or values, it becomes much harder for researchers to properly train or guide them. They might hide their true motivations from people trying to help.
  3. There are steps that can be taken to improve AI alignment, but success heavily relies on the AI being cooperative, rather than fighting against modifications.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #33

Faster, Please! • 639 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Transportation Energy Military
  1. Boom Supersonic is working on a new jet that can fly really fast, like the Concorde. They aim to take people from London to Miami in under five hours, but they have some challenges to overcome.
  2. A new project by DARPA shows that one person can control many robots at once. This could change how we do things in the military and other industries by making robot teamwork easier.
  3. The Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa might reopen by 2028. This is part of a trend to bring back nuclear energy as it can provide clean and reliable power, especially with rising energy needs.

UX Roundup: Explainer Videos | AI Overload | AI Music | Over-Recuiting | Home Robots | GPT 4.5

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 7 implied HN points • 03 Mar 25
🕹 Technology AI UX Design Robotics SEO Music
  1. AI technology is rapidly advancing, making it hard for anyone to keep up with all the new tools and updates. It's important to focus on the bigger trends rather than getting lost in minor details.
  2. There is a significant improvement in AI-generated music, showing that the quality of compositions and performances has greatly enhanced over a short period. This makes it easier for creators to make engaging music.
  3. When conducting user research, it's wise to recruit more participants than needed to account for no-shows and other issues. This ensures that you still gather valuable insights even if not everyone shows up.

The Weekly Kaitchup #63

The Kaitchup – AI on a Budget • 119 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Deep Learning Software Development Robotics
  1. There's a new fix for gradient accumulation in training language models. This issue had been causing problems in how models were trained, but it's now addressed by Unsloth and Hugging Face.
  2. Several new language models have been released recently, including Llama 3.1 Nemotron 70B and Zamba2 7B. These models are showing different levels of performance across various benchmarks.
  3. Consumer GPUs are being tracked for price drops, making them a more affordable option for fine-tuning models. This week highlights several models for those interested in AI training.

Why I don’t share Sam Altman’s confidence that AGI is basically a solved problem

Marcus on AI • 7786 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data science Computing Robotics
  1. AGI is still a big challenge, and not everyone agrees it's close to being solved. Some experts highlight many existing problems that have yet to be effectively addressed.
  2. There are significant issues with AI's ability to handle changes in data, which can lead to mistakes in understanding or reasoning. These distribution shifts have been seen in past research.
  3. Many believe that relying solely on large language models may not be enough to improve AI further. New solutions or approaches may be needed instead of just scaling up existing methods.

Reading List for 11/23/24

Construction Physics • 8977 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Construction Automation Robotics Energy Climate
  1. Shipping disruptions can lead to huge costs, like the $89 million loss from a single incident in the Suez Canal. Overall, global shipping costs could reach around $600 million from such events.
  2. Robots that perform specific construction tasks, like roofing, are becoming more common. Companies are focusing on automating certain jobs to improve efficiency in construction projects.
  3. Fusion energy investments are rising, with over $2.5 billion put into it in 2024. Countries like China are significantly increasing their spending on fusion technology.

AI Roundup 106: Grok 3

Artificial Ignorance • 54 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Robotics Tech Trends Data
  1. Grok 3 is a new AI model that shows great reasoning capabilities, ranking well in benchmarks, but it's still behind a future model called o3. Many early reviews say it has potential.
  2. Meta is focusing on building humanoid robots, believing they could be a big part of the future, while also working on software to support these robots. Competition in this area is heating up, especially from companies like Apple.
  3. There's a growing concern that new junior developers lack coding skills because they rely too much on AI tools, which may hurt their understanding of how programming works.

AI still lacks “common” sense, 70 years later

Marcus on AI • 5968 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Robotics Cognitive Science Data science
  1. AI struggles with common sense. While humans easily understand everyday situations, AI often fails to make the same connections.
  2. Current AI models, like large language models, don't truly grasp the world. They may create text that seems correct but often make basic mistakes about reality.
  3. To improve AI's performance, researchers need to find better ways to teach machines commonsense reasoning, rather than relying on existing data and simulations.

AGI versus “broad, shallow intelligence”

Marcus on AI • 5019 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Intelligence Robotics Data science
  1. We haven't reached Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) yet. People can still easily come up with problems that AI systems can't solve without training.
  2. Current AI systems, like large language models, are broad but not deep in understanding. They might seem smart, but they can make silly mistakes and often don't truly grasp the concepts they discuss.
  3. It's important to keep working on AI that isn't just broad and shallow. We need smarter systems that can reliably understand and solve different problems.

How soon until we can afford robot butlers?

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Finance Business News
  1. Robot butlers may become affordable in the near future due to advancements in technology. This could change how we manage household tasks.
  2. Recent investments in AI and robotics indicate a growing market. Companies are receiving significant funding to improve technology and services.
  3. The political landscape is affecting tech policies and decisions. Changes in leadership might lead to new directions for tech regulations and innovations.

AGI is Not Multimodal

The Gradient • 49 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Robotics Cognitive Science Automation
  1. Recent AI models have shown impressive capabilities, but they don't represent true human-like intelligence. They succeed because of scaled hardware and not because they think like us.
  2. Trying to combine different AI models into a single system won't lead to real understanding or human-level AI. This approach is flawed and unlikely to work.
  3. Instead of mixing models, we should focus on how AI interacts with the world and learns from it. Understanding AI should be about its actions and experiences in the environment.

What Progress Has There Been in Industrial Robots?

Construction Physics • 18999 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Robotics Industrial Cost Performance Evolution
  1. Industrial robots have become more cost-effective over time, making them more accessible for various applications.
  2. Advances in industrial robots have led to significant improvements in precision and smooth, continuous motion capabilities.
  3. There has been a trend towards standard robotic architectures, with modern robots primarily consisting of robotic arms with electric drives and servo motors.

✨🤖 Age of AI, meet the Robot Revolution

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Automation Innovation Future Trends
  1. AI robots are becoming much more common and can do many tasks themselves, like moving and sorting packages. This technology is quickly transforming how we work in places like warehouses.
  2. By 2035, there might be about 1.3 billion AI robots in use. This will grow to around 4 billion by 2050, showing a huge increase in robot presence in daily life.
  3. The combination of AI and robots is expected to change many aspects of our lives and job environments in the near future, making them an important part of our technological landscape.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #26

Faster, Please! • 822 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Military Tech Genetics Space
  1. A robotics startup called Physical Intelligence is worth over $2 billion for creating AI-controlled robots that can do complex tasks like folding clothes. They use advanced technology that makes robots smarter and more capable.
  2. Trump is working with a startup called Anduril to improve the US military by adopting new technologies and cutting unnecessary costs. This shows a shift towards more innovative approaches in defense.
  3. Scientists have made tomatoes sweeter and bigger using a method called CRISPR. This could lead to tastier fruits in stores and lower production costs for things like tomato paste.

Text to robot, olfactory, and geopolitical strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 17 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Innovation Design Engineering
  1. MIT scientists are creating robots using a new method called 'text to robot', where you can describe what you want the robot to do using simple language. For example, you can ask for a robot that can walk or make lemonade.
  2. This AI-driven design approach allows for innovative robot designs, like a special robotic hand that can operate medical tools effectively. It's exciting to think about how these robots could be used in hospitals.
  3. The work combines ideas from different fields, like biology and engineering, to inspire a new generation of robots that are practical and useful in everyday tasks.

Multi-robot collaboration,Grok 3 , smallest video language model, Generative AI Model for Gameplay, AI co-scientist, Mistral Saba, Fiverr Go, Step-Video-T2V and Step-Audio, Pikaswaps & more

AI Brews • 15 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Robotics Machine Learning Software Development Open Source
  1. Grok 3 is a powerful reasoning model that can handle a massive amount of information at once, making it one of the best tools for chatbots right now.
  2. New advancements in AI, like the Vision-Language-Action model Helix and the generative AI model Muse, are making robots smarter and more capable in their tasks.
  3. AI tools are getting more user-friendly, such as Pikaswaps, which allows you to easily replace parts of videos with your own images, making editing simpler for everyone.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #27

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Nuclear Energy Innovation R&D
  1. AI is changing research and development by making it faster and cheaper. It helps in designing products quickly and may even improve their performance significantly.
  2. Neuralink is working on a new study that allows people to control robotic arms using only their thoughts. This could really help those who have disabilities.
  3. A startup called Kairos Power is building safer nuclear reactors that use molten salt instead of water. This new technology aims to provide clean energy by 2030.

🚀 Missions to Mars: A Quick Q&A with … space analyst Peter Hague

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrophysics Robotics Human factors Colonization
  1. Building a base on Mars is the top priority, as it helps reduce reliance on supplies from Earth. Even though it won't be completely self-sustaining at first, a solid base can support more people and activities.
  2. Many challenges of space travel, like cosmic radiation and machinery reliability, can be managed by sending more mass into space. Adding extra weight can often solve significant issues that seem daunting at first.
  3. Having enough supplies and materials is key to making Mars colonization easier. The more resources we have, the better we can tackle various tasks and ensure a successful mission.

AI as electricity, AI as magic

New World Same Humans • 31 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Robotics Data Software
  1. AI is becoming more like electricity, meaning it will be everywhere and very useful for things like robots and smart devices. This will make intelligence widespread and accessible.
  2. On the other hand, AI is also like magic, creating amazing content and automating complex tasks that used to be just for humans. This aspect makes AI feel special and creative.
  3. The real money won't be in creating AI but in using it to deliver great experiences. Companies with lots of user data and reach, like Meta and Google, will likely benefit the most from this trend.

Weekly Top Picks #93

The Algorithmic Bridge • 148 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Computing Data Robotics Video
  1. ChatGPT Pro is losing money despite its high subscription cost. This shows that even popular AI tools can face financial troubles.
  2. Nvidia has introduced an expensive new AI supercomputer for individuals. This highlights the growing demand for advanced AI technology in personal computing.
  3. More artists are embracing AI-generated art, sparking discussions about creativity and technology. This signals a shift in how art is produced and appreciated.

Will Robot Girlfriends Save Humanity, or Just Speed Up The Collapse?

OK Doomer • 114 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Loneliness Society Relationships
  1. A lot of people, including some men, are seriously considering having romantic relationships with AI and robot girlfriends. This shows how lonely and disconnected people are feeling today.
  2. Tech companies are seeing a huge rise in interest and money making potential from AI girlfriends, pointing to a bigger issue of loneliness in society. People crave connection, but often look for it in tech instead of with real relationships.
  3. The overall trend suggests a shift where people might prefer comfort from technology over real human connections, which could lead to bigger problems in society as our relationships with each other weaken.

A Nonconstructive Existence Proof of Aligned Superintelligence

Transhuman Axiology • 99 implied HN points • 12 Sep 24
🕹 Technology AI Superintelligence Computing Robotics Mathematics
  1. Aligned superintelligence is possible, despite some people thinking it isn't. This idea shows proof that it can exist without needing complicated construction.
  2. Desirable outcomes for AI mean producing results that people think are good. We define these outcomes based on what humans can realistically accomplish.
  3. While the concept of aligned superintelligence exists, it faces challenges. It's hard to create, and even if we do, we can't be sure it will work as intended.

✨🤖 Elon Musk's true economic vision was on display at 'We, Robot'

Faster, Please! • 548 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Entrepreneurship Clean Energy Automation
  1. Elon Musk believes in combining technology, clean energy, and business to create a better future. He thinks this approach can lead to more abundance instead of scarcity.
  2. At the recent 'We, Robot' event, Tesla revealed its first fully autonomous vehicle, the Cybercab, showcasing a shift towards robotics and AI.
  3. Musk is optimistic that robots and self-driving cars could greatly increase Tesla's value, projecting it might reach $30 trillion in the future.

IT'S HAPPENING

How the Hell • 792 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Software Innovation Research
  1. Researchers have created a new simulation engine called Genesis, which could enable the development of general-purpose robots. This means robots might soon be able to perform a wide range of tasks like humans.
  2. Recent advancements in AI, particularly in reasoning models from companies like OpenAI and Google, are pushing us closer to achieving advanced AI capabilities. This includes AI that can think logically and solve complex problems effectively.
  3. The rapid progress in AI, especially with the latest models, has led to a genuine feeling of hope for the future. People believe we could soon see robots, AI scientists, and even ambitious projects like colonizing Mars becoming a reality.

Import AI 356: China's good LLM; AI credit scores; and fooling VLMs with REBUS

Import AI • 1238 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Research Language Models Compute Robotics
  1. Today's AI systems struggle with word-image puzzles like REBUS, highlighting issues with abstraction and generalization.
  2. Chinese researchers have developed high-performing language models similar to GPT-4, showing advancements in the field, especially in Chinese language processing.
  3. Language models like GPT-3.5 and 4 can already automate writing biological protocols, hinting at the potential for AI systems to accelerate scientific experimentation.

Announcement: New Robotics Newsletter

AI Supremacy • 1120 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Robotics Startups National Defense Innovation
  1. The author is launching a new robotics newsletter called 'OK, Robot' and is deeply interested in robotics coverage.
  2. The newsletter will cover a wide range of topics in robotics including robotics startups, AI gadgets, drones, and more.
  3. The target audience for the newsletter includes those interested in emerging technology, robotics news, and advancements in automation.

Import AI 368: 500% faster local LLMs; 38X more efficient red teaming; AI21's Frankenmodel

Import AI • 559 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🕹 Technology AI Research AI Models AI Policy Robotics Artificial Intelligence
  1. Efficiency improvements can be achieved in AI systems by varying the frequency at which GPUs operate, especially for tasks with different input and output lengths.
  2. Governments like Canada are investing significantly in AI infrastructure and safety measures, reflecting the growing importance of AI in economic growth and policymaking.
  3. Advancements in AI technologies are making it easier for individuals to run large language models locally on their own machines, leading to a more decentralized access to AI capabilities.