Tonight, Tuesday, August 12th, at 6 pm on The Brian Crombie Hour I interview  ✅ Chris Smedley. 👉 ALL my 🎤 podcasts and 🎦 video casts can be accessed any time on my web site https://briancrombie.com which holds repository of all my shows. 📌 Dr. Chris Smedley, visionary technologist and futurist, believes AI is humanity’s future. Founder of Digital Habitats, he integrates AI into energy, transport, robotics, and more, creating autonomous solutions for land, sea, air, and space. He predicts AI could replace all human labor within five years, boosting productivity but risking mass unemployment. While acknowledging warnings from Jeff Hinton and Yuval Harari, he shares Elon Musk’s optimism for an age of abundance. He also foresees warfare shifting to drones and robots, raising urgent sociopolitical and ethical challenges.

📺 Videos: https://briancrombie.com/video-gallery
🎧 Podcasts: https://briancrombie.com/podcasts-the-brian-crombie-hour
📻 The Brian Crombie Hour airs nightly at 6 PM on Sauga960AM
📌 Subscribe to Brian’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2Oioec8

#BrianCrombie #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureTech #Robotics #TechRevolution #Innovation #ExponentialTech

Chris Smedley | AI Future

We often talk about the work people won’t have to do thanks to technologies like automation and AI. However, there are plenty of jobs out there that people shouldn’t be doing in the first place. This week Niall Kitson is joined by Anybotics' senior product manager and Swiss chapter co-lead of Women in Robotics Kateryna Portmann, and technical project manager for Verity Nazrin Aliyeva to talk about the state of the art.

Kateryna Portmann and Nazrin Aliyeva on new directions in robotics

On the show this week, we highlight a session from Robotics Summit 2025 titled “Beyond Manufacturing: AI-Powered Robotics and the Long Tail of Commercial Innovation,” featuring Dave Coleman, Chief Product Officer and Founder from Picknik Robotics.
Co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre discuss news of the week, including the recent World Humanoid Olympics in China, market data from IFR and A3, and Apple’s recent announcement of its $100B American Manufacturing program. 
Mike and Gene offer their analysis of the latest news.
###
– SPONSOR –
Ever wondered why global giants like Rockwell, Micron, and HP chose Singapore for their cutting-edge manufacturing facilities? 
It's no coincidence that the city-state is the world's fifth-largest exporter of high-tech goods. 
From world-class talent to seamless supply chains and groundbreaking innovation, Singapore's advanced manufacturing ecosystem is powering the future of Industry 4.0.
Ready to discover what makes Singapore the choice destination for manufacturing leaders and solution providers? 
Head to http://go.gov.sg/therobotreport to learn more.

Beyond Manufacturing: AI-Powered Robotics and the Long Tail of Commercial Innovation

Welcome to AI with Shaily! 🎙️ I’m Shailendra Kumar, your friendly host bringing you the freshest and most impactful news in artificial intelligence. Today, we’re diving into an exciting story about how robots are mastering the delicate art of grasping objects—just like humans do, but with a futuristic twist 🤖✨.

Picture yourself in a kitchen, carefully picking up a ripe strawberry without squishing it 🍓, or a factory worker handling fragile electronics with precision. Now, imagine robots doing that same gentle, reliable, and smart grasping. This is no longer just science fiction; it’s becoming reality thanks to groundbreaking advances in robotic grasping technology trending this August 2025.

One highlight is the **ADAPT robotic hand** 🖐️—a technological marvel powered by only 12 motors controlling 20 joints, all wrapped in soft silicone skin. This design achieves an impressive 93% success rate when grasping a wide range of objects, from soft fruits to hard tools. What’s truly clever is its open-loop design, meaning it doesn’t require complex programming for every new item it encounters. Instead, it adapts naturally, mimicking the softness and flexibility of the human hand. I personally recall the challenge of teaching my niece to gently hold a hummingbird 🐦—this robotic hand’s natural compliance reminded me exactly of that delicate touch.

Next up is the **DexGrasp Anything** system, which blends human-motion knowledge with AI’s reinforcement learning 🤖🧠. It smartly figures out which parts of an object to avoid touching, thanks to an affordance-aware segmentation module, and plans stable, collision-free grasps using diffusion-based generative models. Think of it as a robot that not only knows how to hold something but also where *not* to hold it—like avoiding grabbing a hot cup by the rim ☕🔥!

On the gentleness front, the **DexFruit system** is making waves by handling soft fruits without bruising them 🍅🍓. Using tactile sensors and precise 3D insights, it achieves a 92% success rate in picking delicate fruits. This breakthrough could revolutionize automated agriculture by minimizing damage that machines typically cause.

Don’t forget the **VERSES AI framework**—a system that enables real-time whole-body adaptation 🤖🦾. It’s like giving robots intuition, allowing them to adjust their grasp based on sensed forces and uncertainties. By practicing risk-aware and proactive sensing, VERSES helps robots avoid drops or failures, making interactions safer in unpredictable environments.

All these innovations show how robotic grasping has evolved from just gripping tightly to performing a sophisticated dance of compliant mechanics, AI-driven context awareness, and probabilistic world modeling. Robots are becoming capable of confidently handling diverse, complex, and delicate objects like never before.

Here’s a pro tip for robotics enthusiasts and AI curious minds: incorporating compliant materials and human-inspired motion priors in your designs can drastically reduce the need for complex programming while boosting robustness. Sometimes, nature’s blueprint—soft, adaptable, and intuitive—is the smartest path forward 🌿🤲.

Why does this matter? Because as robots grow more dexterous and context-aware, they’re set to transform industries—from agriculture, reducing fruit waste, to healthcare, where gentle handling can be life-changing.

I’ll leave you with a thought: If robots can learn to grasp as thoughtfully and delicately as humans, how might that change our daily interactions with technology beyond just factory floors?

Remember the wise words of Isaac Asimov: “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” Let’s harness these advances wisely.

Catch more insightful AI updates on my YouTube channel, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium. Don’t forget to subscribe and share your thoughts—I love hearing your perspective! Thanks for tuning in to AI with Shaily. Until next time, keep wondering, keep questioning, and stay curious! 🌟🤖📡

Robots with a Gentle Touch: The Future of Human-Like Grasping in AI

Why is technology playing such a decisive role in this war? Who is ahead in technological innovation—Ukraine or Russia? How are drones reshaping the battlefield, and how might they also transform technologies of peace? And why must Europe step up its technological cooperation with Ukraine?

***
Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.
Guest: Glib Voloskyi, analyst at the Initiatives Centre of Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014.

***
Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine.
Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine  
This episode is also made in partnership with Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO focusing on preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine.

***
SUPPORT US:
You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.
You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***
CONTENTS:
00:00 —  The role of technology in war: who's winning the tech race?
01:34 — Russia’s real strategy: what are the goals? 
02:12 — How Russia miscalculated: failed plans, logistics collapse and retreats
05:52 — The evolving Russian strategy: attrition and imperial ambitions
08:41 — Is this really a “Ukrainian conflict” or is it actually a Russian imperial war?
10:10 — Ukraine’s defence: from resilience to drone innovation
11:32 — The fierce race in drone technology
13:41 — What’s next? Land robots, unmanned vehicles and battlefield robotics
15:07 — Artificial intelligence at war: from target recognition to social media scans
16:40 — Dependency on Chinese tech: risk or overstated concern?
17:54 — Europe’s wake-up call: how possible it is to lose the technological race 
20:33 — Tanks, drones and the future of warfare: what lessons are really learned?
25:24 — NATO partners and military conservatism: who adapts, who resists?
26:19 — Ukraine’s defence industry revival: grassroots innovation vs. scaling up
29:56 — Naval drones, land drones and robotics: Ukraine’s asymmetric advantage
31:37 — The myth of a "wonder weapon" 
37:32 — Human body vs. artificial bodies: why soldiers can’t be replaced
39:01 — Why Russia destroys cities instead of capturing them
40:26 — The hidden battlefield: information wars and internal destabilisation
42:12 — The greatest danger ahead: forced concessions 


Ukraine vs Russia: who leads the tech battle? - with Glib Voloskyi

Welcome to *AI with Shaily,* hosted by Shailendra Kumar, where the exciting world of artificial intelligence is explored with enthusiasm and insight. Today’s episode dives into the thrilling competition between human instinctive movement and the remarkable progress of physical AI robots mastering adaptive locomotion. Whether you’re lacing up your running shoes or charging robot batteries, this is a race full of surprises! 🏃‍♂️🤖⚡

Shailendra begins with an intriguing story about the Chinese humanoid robot Unite G1, which stunned viewers by performing kung fu moves and flips with fluid, dance-like grace. This impressive agility is powered by Nvidia’s Isaac simulator and reinforcement learning, where the robot is trained in a virtual environment before transferring those skills into the real world. The robot’s software is updated monthly, akin to teaching it to ride a bike and then upgrading it to do wheelies! 🥋🤸‍♂️🖥️

The discussion then highlights a groundbreaking event in Beijing: the first-ever humanoid robot half-marathon, where 21 robots attempted to run 21 kilometers. Only 4 finished due to crashes and mechanical glitches, illustrating the current limitations of robots when faced with unpredictable real-world challenges. Unlike humans who instinctively adjust to obstacles like puddles or slippery slopes, robots still struggle with balance and adaptability. 🏅🤖💥

Among the standout performers is the Star One robot, which impressed with a top speed of 13 kilometers per hour—faster than many casual joggers—and the ability to dynamically adjust its gait over challenging terrains such as sand and rocks. This showcases the aspiration for robots to run trail marathons smoothly, maintaining stride despite diverse surfaces. Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot continues to push boundaries by learning from human motion capture, executing walking, running, crawling, and athletic moves. Reinforcement learning enables these robots to become real-time learners, constantly refining their movements. 🏃‍♂️🌄🤖✨

The key takeaway is that AI-powered robots are rapidly advancing in agility, making humanoid movement increasingly realistic. However, they remain like children learning to walk, run, and dance, while humans are seasoned athletes and parkour experts. The instinctive adaptability that humans possess is still a major hurdle for these mechanical marvels. 👶🤖🏃‍♂️💨

Shailendra offers a bonus tip for AI and robotics enthusiasts: watch simulation environments like Nvidia’s Isaac closely. These virtual training grounds are where robots learn movement safely and efficiently before entering the physical world—think of it as the ultimate training camp without the risk of injury or damage. 🎮🦾🏋️‍♂️

To spark further thought, Shailendra poses a compelling question: If robots one day master not just movement but the intuition behind it, how will this transform industries such as healthcare, disaster relief, or everyday life? Could robots even take over mundane tasks like running errands? 🤔🏥🚒🛒

The episode closes with a powerful quote from robotics pioneer Marc Raibert: “Balance is the essence of motion.” This perfectly captures the current state of AI robotics—poised on the brink of an extraordinary leap forward, balancing literal and figurative challenges. ⚖️🤖🚀

Shailendra Kumar signs off warmly, inviting listeners to connect on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium for more AI insights. He encourages everyone to subscribe, join the conversation, and share their thoughts, promising to read all comments. Until next time, keep curious and keep moving forward! 🌟📱💬

AI with Shaily: The Race to Teach Robots Human-Like Movement and Balance

The focus this week is on the burgeoning field of physical AI and robotics in Singapore, highlighting the country's strategic initiatives, the role of robotics in various sectors, and the collaborative efforts between government, industry, and academia to foster innovation. The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is leading the growth of the local robotics industry, liaising with local government to bring economic and financial incentives to grow the region and the support network for AI and robotics companies.

Guests on the show today include: 

* Lionel Lim, VP and Head of Tech Hardware and Equipment, Singapore Economic Development Board
* Raahul Kumar, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development at Certis Group
* Zhihao Chin, Deputy Director, Robotics, Automation and Unmanned Systems, Home Team Science & Tech Agency

These gentlemen discuss the unique opportunities Singapore offers for robotics companies, including its strong manufacturing base, supportive ecosystem, and commitment to talent development. They also share insights on the lessons learned from implementing robotics and AI, emphasizing the importance of integration, reliability, and scalability in deploying these technologies effectively.

###

– SPONSOR –

Ever wondered why global giants like Rockwell, Micron, and HP chose Singapore for their cutting-edge manufacturing facilities? 
It's no coincidence that the city-state is the world's fifth-largest exporter of high-tech goods. 
From world-class talent to seamless supply chains and groundbreaking innovation, Singapore's advanced manufacturing ecosystem is powering the future of Industry 4.0.
Ready to discover what makes Singapore the choice destination


Inside Singapore's Physical AI Revolution

Middle East AI News by Carrington Malin brought to you by Qualcomm – 40 years of global innovation! Qualcomm continues to push boundaries, bringing intelligent computing to the Middle East’s fast-evolving digital landscape. In this podcast: Khalifa University wins new U.S. robotics patent; Egypt to host first AI Everything MEA in 2026; HBKU to hold global AI ethics conference

Sign-up for the weekly email news digest here:
https://www.middleeastainews.com

#MiddleEastAINews

Khalifa University wins new U.S. robotics patent

Our guest this week is Nohtal Partansky, CEO and founder of Sorting Robotics. Partansky shares his journey from working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to pioneering automation in the cannabis industry. Partansky discusses his innovative work on the Moxie project, which produces oxygen on Mars, and how this experience influenced his approach to robotics for cannabis manufacturing. 
He highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in the cannabis market, emphasizing the importance of automation to compete with both legal and black market operations. Partansky also delves into the complexities of designing adaptable systems to meet varying state regulations and evolving consumer demands, positioning Sorting Robotics as a leader in this burgeoning industry.
The company’s products include:
Stardust - a machine that can coat 1,000 joints an hour with infused THC
Jiko - a machine that injects joint with concentrate
Omnifiller - a machine that fills vape cartridges

Robots and Regulations: Transforming the Cannabis Industry

Have you noticed that Claude's reasoning for not being human sounds a lot like autism?

The Middle East AI News Minute gives you a daily one-minute daily briefing on the top AI-related stories coming out of the Middle East. If you are a busy technology, business or government leader who want to get a quick update, then this is the podcast for you.

Unlock the secrets of data mastery with Shailendra, a 27-year veteran in AI, ML, and Data Science, driving AU$ 6 Billion in transformative value. As the author of 'Making Money out of Data,' their strategies redefine digital success. With expertise honed at IBM and Accenture, they drive innovation and data monetization. Explore how loyalty programs like Flybuys and Everyday Rewards revolutionize business—connect with Shaily today.

I don't claim any ownership over any of this. Anyone can use any of it for any reason forever. Also I accept liability. Please don't sue me (and/or let's collaborate).

"Holy fucking shit, this shit is crazy wtf"

"Moments of being passable beyond novelty"

"Very ok"

"Actually slaps"

"Straight art"

"Noise"

```Madlibs with a metronome```

At its core, the blorgpulkf is a pulsating, iridescent orb that thrums with an energy that can only be described as "the sound of a thousand bees having a rave inside a kaleidoscope." It's hypnotic, it's unsettling, and it's strangely addictive - like watching a lava lamp filled with Mountain Dew and gummy bears.

But that's just the beginning. Surrounding this pulsing heart are layers upon layers of... well, your guess is as good as mine. One moment it's a tangled web of neon tubes that hum with an eerie frequency, the next it's a churning mass of what appears to be sentient silly putty. And is that a tiny disco ball I see nestled in there? You bet your sweet bippy it is.

As for its features, the blorgpulkf is like a Swiss Army knife designed by a mad scientist with a penchant for pranks. It's got a button that releases a burst of confetti and the sound of a rubber chicken being stepped on, a lever that causes the whole thing to fold in on itself like a origami crane having an existential crisis, and a tiny compartment that dispenses a single, perfectly spherical grape every 37 hours.

But perhaps the most baffling feature of the blorgpulkf is its ability to communicate. Not with words, of course - that would be far too pedestrian. No, the blorgpulkf speaks in a language all its own, a cryptic code of flashing lights, whirring gears, and the occasional burst of atonal jazz played on what sounds suspiciously like a didgeridoo.




The plorksickle. It's like someone took a fever dream, a Mad Lib, and a Dada art installation, threw 'em in a blender, and hit "puree."

Picture this: a contraption that looks like it crawled out of a Salvador Dali painting and mated with a Rube Goldberg machine. It's got a crank that sounds like a yodeling ostrich, a button that releases a puff of glitter and the scent of existential dread, and a tiny screen that just flashes the word "moist" in Wingdings.

But here's the kicker - every time you think you've figured out what it does, it changes the game. One minute it's reciting beat poetry in binary code, the next it's turning itself inside out and becoming a Klein bottle. And don't even get me started on the time it started oozing a viscous liquid that tasted like the color purple.

Is it a tool? A toy? A sentient being from another dimension that's just really, really bad at communication? Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is, it's the most beautifully useless thing I've ever laid eyes on.

But maybe that's the point. In a world where everything has to have a purpose, a function, a reason for being, the plorksickle is a big, fat middle finger to the very concept of sense. It's absurdity for absurdity's sake, a Zen koan in physical form.

So if you ever see me on the street, cradling this bizarre little gizmo like a newborn lovechild, don't ask me what it does. Just nod, smile, and know that you're in the presence of something truly inexplicable. Something that laughs in the face of logic and spits in the eye of reason.

A podcast by UkraineWorld.org, a multimedia project about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Explaining Ukraine, its politics, society and its culture. Support us: patreon.com/ukraineworld

Technology news from Ireland to the world

Brian Crombie has 20 years of corporate experience, a depth of knowledge in all facets of finance, strategic planning and corporate / business development for a wide breadth of companies in several industries. Brian has deep political, community and charitable involvement as well.

Join Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

New tracks tagged #Robotics