Humanoid robots, Waymo robotaxis, AI research credibility, Nvidia milestones...

Wired reports on the emergence of V-JEPA, an artificial intelligence model designed to intuitively understand the physics of the real world by analyzing ordinary videos. The system represents a leap forward in enabling machines to predict and reason about physical interactions, a crucial step toward more autonomous and adaptable robots. This approach, according to Wired, could power next-generation humanoid robots with a deeper grasp of object manipulation, environmental awareness, and human-like interaction. Wired

Engadget details that Waymo has initiated a voluntary software recall for its autonomous vehicle fleet after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation revealed robotaxis failed to stop for school buses displaying stop signs and flashing lights in cities like Atlanta and Austin. This recall, part of a pattern of recent safety corrections, underscores ongoing challenges in perfecting perception and decision-making algorithms for real-world scenarios, especially in environments involving vulnerable road users. Engadget notes Waymo’s claim that its cars have fewer pedestrian crashes than human drivers, but the repeated recalls reflect the complexity of achieving human-level safety and regulatory compliance. Engadget

The Guardian raises concerns about the state of academic AI research, spotlighting Kevin Zhu, who authored 113 AI papers—89 of which are being presented at a leading machine learning conference this year. The paper flood, often co-authored with high school students via Zhu's Algoverse mentoring company, has prompted computer scientists to question research quality and rigor. The Guardian highlights expert criticisms that such practices risk diluting scientific standards, a crucial issue as AI technologies are increasingly integrated into robotics and real-world applications. The Guardian

DevOps.com reports that Anthropic has acquired the high-performance JavaScript toolkit Bun to boost its AI-powered coding capabilities, particularly for its code-generation platform, Claude Code. The acquisition signals a strategic push by Anthropic to enhance developer-facing AI tools, crucial for accelerating the integration of sophisticated AI into robotics systems and automation workflows. Bun will remain open source, reflecting Anthropic’s commitment to community-driven development. DevOps.com

Tom’s Hardware highlights insights from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who shared in a recent interview that the breakthrough in deep learning began in 2012 when researchers ran the first neural networks on a pair of Nvidia GTX 580 GPUs in SLI. This foundational moment paved the way for today’s AI-driven robotics, enabling the computational scale required for training large models that power vision, speech, and control in humanoid robots. The story underscores the hardware-software synergy at the heart of AI’s progress in robotics. Tom's Hardware

Wall Street Journal (Markets) discusses the recent decline in 'quality' status for major AI stocks, including Nvidia, as a prominent ETF dropped big tech equities over concerns about the sustainability of AI’s profit potential. The piece questions whether the current wave of investment in AI—fueling robotics and automation—is a wellspring of future value or at risk of overextension. The debate could influence funding and direction for robotics startups relying on AI innovation. Wall Street Journal (Markets)

The Financial Times reports that Chinese phone manufacturers are leveraging Apple’s struggles with AI features to grow their market share, promoting apps that help users switch from iPhones. While the article focuses on smartphones, the broader trend of AI feature integration underscores the intensifying competition in consumer technology, with potential downstream effects on the pace at which robotics and AI capabilities diffuse into everyday devices. Financial Times