Global Scans · Robots · Weekly Summary

• [New] While the U.S. lags behind in industrial robot adoption, it has the opportunity to implement a different strategy to play to its competitive strengths: building gray factories. Automation.com
• [New] South Korean carmaker Hyundai formally announced that, by 2028, the Atlas humanoid robot being developed by Hyundai subsidiary Boston Dynamics will take on some tasks in Hyundai's factory in the US state of Georgia. Forrester
• [New] Boston Dynamics confirmed that initial units will be deployed in 2026 at Hyundai's Metaplant in Georgia, signaling Atlas's transition from research platform to commercial workforce robot. Interesting Engineering
• [New] Before a robot is deployed to the Georgia EV megaplant (scheduled for 2028, with pilot testing throughout 2026), it undergoes intensive training at RMAC to learn specific tasks. datapro.news
• [New] Boston Dynamics is a bit less clear on what the initial tasks will be, noting that it is, starting to work with select customers to evaluate, train, and perfect feature-rich, autonomous material handling solutions. Automate
• [New] Tesla's autonomous driving sector is expected to see positive advancements in three areas in 2026. Tradingkey
• [New] Tesla's narrative remains characteristically ambitious, with Elon Musk continuing to highlight long-term opportunities ranging from autonomous driving to humanoid robots. investing.com
• [New] The latest Optimus 3 robot is unlikely to enter mass production until the end of 2026 at the earliest, but Musk thinks it will scale to 1 million annual units very quickly. Nasdaq
• [New] Autonomous driving company Mobileye will acquire AI-powered humanoid robotics startup Mentee Robotics for $900 million. National Law Review
• [New] By combining Mentee's breakthroughs in humanoid robotics with Mobileye's expertise in automotive autonomy, and its proven ability to productize advanced AI, we have a unique opportunity to lead the evolution of physical AI across robotics and autonomous vehicles on a global scale. Mobileye
• [New] The acquisition of Mentee by Mobileye is expected to catalyze technological synergies that advance Physical AI across robotics and autonomous vehicles. Mobileye
• [New] The collaboration, announced at CES in Las Vegas, will see Google's Gemini Robotics model deployed on various Boston Dynamics' robots, including a humanoid called Atlas and a robot dog called Spot. Wired
• [New] A major leap in robotics will occur in 2026, enabling self-adaptive, autonomous robots to operate and learn in real-world environments without extensive manual programming. Tech Funding News
• [New] Smart home gadgets are a big category at CES, and consumers could expect a string of new robot vacuum cleaners, smart locks, security cameras, and even humanoids. Stocktwits
• [New] Tesla stands to be a big winner from a potential easing of limitations on autonomous vehicle development, as the United States government could back off from the restrictions placed on companies developing self-driving car programs. TESLARATI
• [New] The Detroit automaker plans to launch an eyes-off, hands-off driving system by 2028, starting with the Cadillac Escalade IQ - a move that could reshape the entire autonomous vehicle landscape. The Tech Buzz
• [New] Experts anticipate federal regulatory action and legislation, along with a possible executive order, to support the development of autonomous vehicles in the U.S. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] Under an optimistic scenario, the Compound Annual Growth Rate for autonomous taxi mileage in the U.S. will reach 116% from 2025 to 2032. Tradingkey
• [New] AI development will dominate trends expected to impact cities in 2026, such as autonomous vehicles, upzoning and commuter rail service. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] Huibo Robotics has committed to launching two humanoid robot products by 2026, achieving an average annual revenue growth of at least 30% from 2026 to 2028, and filing applications for no fewer than 200 related patents. AI Insider
• [New] AI-driven IoT applications will surge, with an estimated 75% of IoT devices incorporating AI capabilities by 2026, empowering intelligent data analysis, predictive insights, and autonomous decision-making. Zealous System
• [New] By vehicle type, the electric & autonomous vehicles segment is growing at a strong CAGR 20% from 2026 to 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] Prediction: Global humanoid robot shipments will exceed 50,000 units in 2026, with China accounting for 75% + of deployments. SuperSeed

Last updated: 12 January 2026