#robotics

Interesting Linkedin post with internal and external POV on the Hugo fiasco and the resultant $700M investment for the right to sell someone elses robot?

https://lnkd.in/p/gN_sz95G

Food delivery startup Wonder has reduced its staff by 150 employees, representing 7% of its total workforce. This strategic move is intended to reallocate resources towards key growth areas, specifically physical expansion and investments in robotics and automation. The company emphasized that no retail locations were closed and plans to increase its store count by year-end. These layoffs follow a significant $650 million investment and precede a potential initial public offering. Wonder aims to support affected employees during this transition period.

New York, New York

https://nypost.com/2026/09/03/business/food-delivery-biz-wonder-slashes-150-jobs-to-invest-in-robotics/

Automakers and labor unions are preparing for a significant confrontation over the increasing integration of robots and AI in manufacturing. This issue was a central theme at a recent industry conference in Detroit, highlighting the tangible impact of automation. Workers view the rise of robots as an existential threat to their jobs and livelihoods. Automakers, conversely, see automation as crucial for future competitiveness and efficiency. The debate centers on how to navigate this technological shift while addressing the concerns of the workforce.

Detroit, Michigan

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2026/06/19/automakers-and-workers-face-existential-fight-over-robots-future/90610241007/

Federal law classifies Amazon's Florida warehouse closures as permanent, despite the company's claims of temporary renovations. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act mandates 60 days' notice for layoffs lasting over six months, a definition that applies to Amazon's two-year facility conversion plans. This legal discrepancy impacts over 1,100 workers across two Florida locations. Miami-Dade County is pursuing legal action against Amazon for violating land use agreements tied to job creation at one of the affected sites. The company's shift to a robotics-first design necessitates these extensive rebuilds, leading to significant workforce displacement.

Miami, Florida

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/321051/20260720/amazon-labels-florida-warehouse-closures-temporary-federal-law-says-permanent.htm

Why doesn't Q invest more in robotic chips? Its expertise in low-power SoCs with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth seems like a great fit for robotics.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2026/06/uaw-blasts-gm-for-installing-robots-on-factory-zero-assembly-line/

https://youtube.com/shorts/A8K-ILroUTQ?si=KUcn2s9sE9-wQlpj

So how is it working for the robotics team? I see they are trying to staff up? I'm a electromechanical engineer....place for me there?

Rumors swirling robotics will be spun out for IPO or private equity.

How did we get to this point where corporate America is a country club where we will never obtain membership.

Years ago Medtronic was great place to work until the outsiders wrecked it with their paper MBAs.

Everyone I know is a clock puncher now. Why put in more than 40/week when it’s not rewarded???

Projects taking way too long now due to stretched AOP budgets.

Anyone believes that Hugo (extremely large space hog of a robot) is going to grow revenues? Elon Musks robots will soon be ble to do surgeries.

What chance do the rest of our jobs stand?

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/05/boston-dynamicss-next-gen-humanoid-robot-will-have-google-deepmind-dna/

Everyone get ready for the real great replacement. Humanoid robots with AI learning are being taught how to do part deliveries and other logistical tasks. Gulfstream will do anything to improve their profit margins, so you better believe that they will find a way to replace every human worker at gulfstream with a robot that doesn't require bathroom breaks, food, vacations, health insurance or anything else that could possibly slow production down. They will be able to work 24/7/365, will be able to perform all the tasks we can without causing any DRDIs. It's not about if it happens, it's about when.

Amazon plans to fully "Amazonify" Whole Foods by flooding shelves with cheap, mass-produced junk food like Doritos, Pepsi, and Kraft singles to chase Walmart shoppers and low income customers, while quietly phasing out premium organic lines to cut costs and line their pockets. thousands of long-time store managers and grocery/front end staff will face massive layoffs as robots take over stocking (the same robots they have in warehouses right now) and checkout duties, because this year Amazon is plotting to rebrand select locations as hybrid Amazon Fresh warehouses stocked mostly with private-label basics and call it "Fresh by Whole Foods Market"

What does the centralized robotics team do? So far I have only seen them slap Chevron stickers on off the shelf products and produce fancy videos for the home page… but zero reduction in operating costs in the plant, in fact we have more operators now than we did 5 years ago…. ENGINE fuel?

How sc--wed is everybody? I know every single acquisition comes with layoffs, I'm just wondering how bad it's going to get. I'm no fan of ABB but I've been reading up on SoftBank and to be frank, I haven't exactly been happy with what I've read so far.