Agents & automation stories

This week

UCLA builds a humanoid from smartphone

Key points
  • Four Android phones handle sensing, vision, and movement control for the robot, which uses 13 motors.
  • Estimated added hardware cost is $400, not counting the phones, which are sold separately.
  • The robot has no arms, was trained only on flat ground, and needs a separate laptop for speech and language.
  • Researchers fixed an uneven gait by adding mirrored training examples that swapped left and right.

Why it matters for marketers: Low-cost humanoid robotics is reaching students and small labs, which could lead to more robotics demos and educational content from smaller builders.

The Rundown AIAgents & automation

This AI factory builds tiny machines from code

Key points
  • Former Uber self-driving chief Jeff Holden leads the California startup, which came out of stealth after six years.
  • Holden says its Matter Compiler builds a new device when code changes, with no retooling, unlike a 3D printer.
  • Each production step is checked before a part moves on, and the company says the process feeds the AI new material data.
  • First product is PrimeSwitch, a fingertip-sized power switch for AI server farms, which the company says beats traditional breakers.

Why it matters for marketers: Expect hardware startups to pitch prompt-to-product claims; this one still builds only its own products with humans in the loop, so verify before repeating.

The Rundown AIAgents & automation