On the show today, Scott Kuindersma, VP of Robotics Research at Boston Dynamics, discusses the development and testing of large behavior models (LBMs) for Atlas, a humanoid robot. The Boston Dynamics team collected 20 hours of teleoperation data to train LBMs, which generalize manipulation tasks. 
They demonstrated this with Atlas performing bi-manual manipulation tasks, such as picking and placing Spot parts. The process involves data collection, annotation, model training, and evaluation. 
Kuindersma highlighted the importance of simulation data and human demonstration data. 
Future plans include testing Atlas in Hyundai facilities and exploring AI-centric results to enhance humanoid manipulation and dynamic behaviors.
Boston Dynamics is planning to take Atlas to some Hyundai facilities this year.

From Teleoperation to Autonomy: Inside Boston Dynamics' Atlas Training

On the show this week: Dustin Vaughan, VP of R&D for Robotics at Ascensus, discusses the strategic direction and priorities of his team, focusing on the development of the Luna platform. 
Vaughan highlights the importance of performance-guided surgery and the integration of augmented intelligence to enhance clinical support systems. Vaughan also addresses the challenges of navigating regulatory landscapes and cybersecurity concerns while emphasizing the potential of robotics and automation in the medical field. 
He expresses optimism about the future of surgical robotics, particularly in pediatric care, and the role of AI in improving surgical outcomes. The conversation underscores the commitment to delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions that enhance patient care and operational efficiency in the operating room.
Also featured during the news section is Anders Beck, VP of Technology, Universal Robots, with a manufacturer's perspective on the new collaborative robotics standards changes.

Performance-Guided Surgery:  Robots in the operating room

Middle East AI News by Carrington Malin brought to you by Qualcomm – Qualcomm is expanding its footprint and partnering with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance its digital transformation vision through AI and next-generation technologies – powered by innovation, strong alliances, and a shared commitment to Vision 2030. In this podcast: Abu Dhabi opens first AI robotics lab with NVIDIA; MODON to launch Saudi AI centre of excellence; Arab youth embrace AI and creative futures

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

#MiddleEastAINews


Abu Dhabi opens region's first AI robotics lab with NVIDIA

In this episode, we reconnect with Peter Finn, Managing Director at BGL, to explore the evolving landscape of industrial technology, robotics, and AI. Peter shares insights on market trends post-COVID, the challenges and opportunities in the robotics sector, and the critical role of AI in shaping the future. 
We delve into the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions, the potential of humanoid robotics, and the importance of adaptability in today's fast-paced technological environment. 
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on navigating the future of industrial innovation.

Robots, mergers and acquisitions with Peter Finn

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: Algeria expands robotics training in Annaba; Abu Dhabi and Malaysia partner on autonomy; Vietnam seeks G42 support on data centres

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

#MiddleEastAINews

Algeria expands robotics training in Annaba

On the show this week: Adrian Stoch, CEO Hai Robotics, USA
In the conversation with Stoch, he discusses his transition from GXO Logistics to a leadership role at HAI Robotics, driven by the company's customer-centric approach and innovative culture led by founder Richie Chen. 
Adrian highlights the importance of aligning automation solutions with customer needs, emphasizing the shift towards large-scale automation in response to global supply chain challenges and labor constraints. 
He also outlines his goals for Hai Robotics in the Americas, focusing on building a talented team and implementing lean processes to support growth and customer success. 
###
– SPONSOR –
Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? 

The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. 

Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. 

Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. 

Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment

Adrian Stoch: Driving Hai Robotics' U.S. expansion

Soundtrack to action movies investigative series films xtreme and outdoor sports advertising and publicity


O Nirvana

@truthspillzfrommymouth - new tier prod 444jet

What if the next leap in AI isn’t bigger at all? Samsung just unveiled a tiny model built to run on your phone, earbuds, and watch.
We unpack why on-device AI matters: faster responses, lower costs, and stronger privacy with your photos, voice, and messages processed locally. Harry Kermode explains how tiny AI works: distillation, pruning, quantization, and NPUs that wake only when needed. We also map the trade-offs and the likely hybrid handoff between edge and cloud.
Expect everyday devices to feel smarter by default, reshaping app design, battery expectations, and how personal your AI becomes without sending everything to the cloud. Plus, the privacy fine print and what benchmarks and tools to watch next.
If you enjoyed this explainer, follow AI Daily, share the episode, and leave a review. 

FULL TRANSCRIPT: I can’t replicate that show’s exact style, but here’s a concise, narrative news explainer in a similar tone.

From AI Daily, I’m Harry Kermode.

Today: what if the next big leap in artificial intelligence isn’t bigger at all? Samsung has unveiled a tiny AI model designed to run on the devices we carry—phones, earbuds, even watches. It’s a bet that the future of AI lives at the edge, not in the cloud.

Here’s why that matters. When AI runs on your device, your data doesn’t need to travel. That means faster responses, lower costs, and a real shift in privacy—your voice, your photos, your messages can be processed locally, not on someone else’s server.

Imagine your morning: you dictate a text on the subway, offline. Your watch translates a phrase on the fly. Your camera de-blurs a photo as you snap it. No spinning “connecting” icon. No signal? No problem.

Under the hood, “tiny AI” isn’t magic—it’s engineering. Start with a capable model, then compress it: distillation to teach a smaller network the tricks of a larger one, pruning to snip away redundant connections, quantization to store numbers more efficiently. Pair that with modern phone chips—neural processing units tuned for matrix math—and clever scheduling so models wake only when needed. The result: meaningful intelligence within a tight power budget.

There are trade-offs. Smaller models can’t juggle sprawling tasks or remember long conversations. Expect a hybrid approach: on-device for speed and privacy, the cloud for heavy lifting, with seamless handoffs you barely notice.

The stakes are big. If everyday devices become smart by default, AI stops being a destination and becomes an atmosphere. That’s democratizing—and disruptive. App makers will design for on-device first. Carriers could see fewer data-hungry requests. Companies will compete on battery life, latency, and how well tiny models adapt to you personally.

And privacy? On-device processing keeps data local, but it isn’t a free pass. Companies will need transparent update policies, secure enclaves for sensitive data, and clear controls so you can decide what stays on your phone and what leaves it.

What to watch next: real-world benchmarks on speed and battery drain, developer tools that make building tiny-model apps easy, and whether Samsung’s move pushes rivals to standardize how edge AI is measured, updated, and secured.

Small models, everywhere. That might be how AI finally becomes part of the background—powerful, personal, and almost invisible.

That’s AI Daily. I’m Harry Kermode. See you tomorrow.

The Future of AI Is Small and On-Device

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Wolff, CEO of Palladyne AI, to discuss the company's innovative strides in the AI and robotics industry. We dive into their focus on simplifying robot programming through an enhanced user interface, the development of autonomous swarming technology for drones, and their commitment to creating hardware-agnostic AI solutions. 
Ben shares insights into the advantages of edge computing and emphasizes a customer-centric approach to product development, ensuring that their offerings are indispensable to users. 
Tune in to learn how Palladyne AI is shaping the future of robotics and AI.

– SPONSOR –

Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? 

The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. 

Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. 

Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. 

Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment


Edge Computing and AI: A Conversation with Ben Wolff

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.

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