Today
Why the world needs lazier robots
Machines need to get better at ignoring stuff because right now the energy they guzzle to process all the data they receive makes them a global warming risk.
- Samanth Subramanian and Emily Wright
This Month
Australia’s next robot farm wants to grow your burger garnish
Investors have lost billions on vertical farming start-ups, but a Gold Coast business says it has a model that stacks up, luring investment from Tribeca and Tayside.
- Tess Bennett
Robot puts a sock in it for world’s biggest gadget fest
CES – formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show – starts officially on Wednesday, but already a theme has emerged, and it doesn’t take AI to figure out what it is.
- John Davidson
AI’s next big (risky) thing: Special agents to organise your life
Tasks that would have taken a month can now be done in an hour, but people will be exposing a lot more digital information, raising privacy and security concerns.
- Gerrit De Vynck
October 2024
Elon Musk’s robots were remotely operated by humans at Tesla event
Optimus’ conversation was so authentic, it prompted speculation the machine may have had external help. The billionaire did not reveal that staffers oversaw interactions.
- Updated
- Ed Ludlow
August 2024
The robochef revolution poised to take over restaurants
Robot-driven kitchens are delivering profit margins that traditional restaurateurs can only dream of, and their spruikers argue that human chefs will benefit too.
- Matt Oliver and Daniel Woolfson
June 2024
Aussie experts can stop your smart-device cameras spying on you
When photos snapped by a robot vacuum cleaner of a woman on the toilet went viral, the smart home sector knew it had a problem; Aussie academics claim to have solved it.
- Alana Piper
May 2024
China’s army tests gun-toting robot dog
The new military tech was made by a start-up with funding from major venture capital firms.
- Ryan McMorrow
- Exclusive
- Ed Husic
‘Inflection point in history’: Government unveils robotics plan
Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic has a plan for Australia to use and export more AI-infused robots to boost national productivity and industry.
- Paul Smith
Rio makes safety change after double-impact derailment
Iron ore giant Rio Tinto reopened the rail line damaged in a train crash as the Mining and Energy Union seeks to highlight a pattern of alleged safety failures.
- Brad Thompson
March 2024
How these top companies are using AI every day
From sensing the water needs of grapevines to avoiding iron ore spills in the Pilbara, artificial intelligence is helping Australia’s major companies become more efficient.
- Christopher Niesche
January 2024
Translucent TVs and home-helper robots set 2024 gadget agenda
LG and Samsung both showed off TVs that become translucent at the press of a button, allowing it to blend more seamlessly into a room.
- Updated
- John Davidson
December 2023
Japan’s SoftBank swoops on ASX-listed shopping centre cleaning minnow
A division of the investments conglomerate has made a $57 million offer for Millennium Services, and wants to help it deploy robots to help service clients.
- Nick Bonyhady
November 2023
- Opinion
- Life & Leisure
This $3000 robot will mow your lawn while you sleep
A new robot from Ecovacs can automatically cut your grass for you, but only if you’ve mowed it first.
- John Davidson
September 2023
- Exclusive
- AI
The new $3b robot factory shooting for the moon
Advanced Navigation, a Sydney deep-tech company backed by Malcolm Turnbull, is scaling up a factory that helps NASA navigate when there’s no GPS.
- John Davidson
AI to rapidly disrupt Australian economy: Deloitte
Roughly a quarter of the Australian economy will be hit hard and fast by generative artificial intelligence disruption as highlighted in a report by economists.
- Poppy Johnston
July 2023
‘Why would you think that?’ Robots swear off world domination
In the world’s first human-robot press conference, AI-driven machines sought to allay fears about job losses (and world domination).
- Updated
- Emma Farge
June 2023
Gamers in the Philippines are making beds in London
While AI can write humanlike essays, machines can still barely walk or pick up a cup because there is no data to help them copy our biomechanical movements.
- Parmy Olson
May 2023
AI valuations are staggering, says Australian tech entrepreneur
The world has gone mad for AI companies, but a low-profile Aussie entrepreneur is years ahead of the curve. She is already making robots – and NASA space pals.
- Paul Smith
- Analysis
- AI
Meet the AI humanoid robot that is already stacking shelves
Depending on your perspective you will either be delighted or terrified to meet Phoenix, the humanoid robot, who his creators say, is here to help.
- Paul Smith