Category: Robots and Robotics

Rodney Brooks, the Godfather of Modern Robotics, Says the Field Has Lost Its Way

Rodney Brooks, famous for the Roomba, argues the humanoid robot craze in Silicon Valley is doomed to fail.
Russian Humanoid Robot Falls on Its Face in Hyped Debut

The robot, known as AIDOL, staggered onstage during a technology showcase in Moscow. Organizers blamed the mishap on calibration and lighting issues.
Tesla Investors Back Musk’s Trillion Dollar Payday

Shareholders approved a plan to grant Mr. Musk shares worth nearly $1 trillion if he meets ambitious goals, including vastly expanding the company’s stock market valuation.
Would Elon Musk Work Harder for $1 Trillion Than $1 Billion?

Economists and psychologists say that compensation may not provide as powerful an incentive as is often assumed.
Control of Tesla Is at Stake in Vote on Elon Musk’s Pay Plan

Mr. Musk’s supporters say he may quit if shareholders don’t approve a trillion-dollar package. Some investors say it’s excessive and would give him too much sway.
U.S. Manufacturing’s Mixed Picture in 4 Charts

President Trump vowed to bring factories back. Is he succeeding?
Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Pitch

Despite a drop in Tesla profit, the billionaire exhorted investors to back his proposed compensation package, or face consequences.
China Displays Its Gizmos and Ambition, but Fewer Answers on Trade

The vast Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou stood as a rebuke to U.S. efforts to hem in China’s technology. But the real competition is internal, and profits are hard to find.
There Are More Robots Working in China Than the Rest of the World Combined

China has embarked on a campaign to use more robots in its factories, transforming its manufacturing industries and becoming the dominant maker.
‘Peak SF’ on a Friday Night Is a Robot Fight

The artificial intelligence boom, which has brought techies flocking back to the city, has fueled a resurgence of live — and sometimes futuristic — events.
Elon Musk Could Become First Trillionaire Under New Tesla Pay Package

Tesla’s board unveiled a compensation package for the chief executive that could be worth $900 billion if he meets ambitious targets.
How ‘Clanker’ Became an Anti-A.I. Rallying Cry

The term, which was popularized by a “Star Wars” show and is rooted in real frustrations with technology, has become a go-to slur against artificial intelligence and robots.