Figure AI is valued at $39 billion, and its Index app has 44,000 weekly active users—not necessarily 44,000 people filming their own chores. Skild AI has raised at a $14 billion valuation, but the SoftBank-led detail is not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Toyota plans to deploy 400,000 robots in its own and group plants and invest $6.42 billion annually starting in 2028; reports do not confirm a separate division named “Toyota Robotics.”
TechCrunch reported that Democrats won historic midterm victories and that 40 of 41 data center-related ballot measures around the U.S. voted to impose more restrictions on data center development.
The Pentagon conditionally approved a $250 million loan for battery startup 6K to build a U.S. factory using its microwave-plasma battery material process.
Fox completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku, according to TechCrunch; DOJ investigators had been probing the deal before it closed.
TechCrunch reported Ramp data shows AI usage is still climbing but AI spending has stalled, and this comes as Anthropic is reportedly nearing an IPO.
CToyota says it's putting four hundred thousand robots into its factories.
MFour hundred thousand? That's not a pilot program, that's an army.
CA post on X from the account Unbelievable, but true says Toyota's building its own robotic army.
MThe account name is doing a lot of work there.
CFair. But the figure comes from Toyota's own plan. Toyota plans to invest around six billion dollars a year starting in 2028.
MThat's real money. The post also claims they've created a new division called Toyota Robotics.
CRight, and that part isn't in the reporting I've seen. It's a dedicated push, not a new sign on the building.
MOkay, so what's the goal? Replace line workers?
CToyota says no. They insist it won't replace human workers.
MThey always say that. The robot doesn't need a press release to take a job.
CBut Japanese factories are desperate for workers. The population is aging, and you can't fill those shifts.
MSo the fix is four hundred thousand machines and six billion a year?
CThat's the bet. And honestly, those plants already run on robots. This is more.
MMore robots, fewer people, and the company says nothing to see here.
CNo, wait— they're not saying nothing to see. They're saying humans move to less repetitive jobs.
MWhich jobs? The ones the last automation push promised?
CCome on, this isn't new. Automation has raised factory output for decades. Toyota still employs a lot of people.
MSo you're fine with four hundred thousand robots on the floor?
CI'm fine with factories that can actually produce. If that's what it takes, yes.
MSpoken like a guy who's never worked a line.
CAnd you're acting like a robot can do every job. It can't.
MNo, it can't do every job. But it doesn't need to.
MMeanwhile, a post on X from bonduelle says ten people are deciding who builds the robot in your house.
CTen people? That sounds like a very small board meeting.
MIt lists Brett Adcock from Figure, valued at thirty-nine billion, and Deepak Pathak from Skild AI, at fourteen billion.
CThose valuations are real. But the post also says forty-four thousand people a week film their own chores to train Figure's robots.
MAnd that part is misleading. Figure's Index app has forty-four thousand weekly active users. They might be filming chores, but it's not a given.
CStill, crowdsourcing training data that way is real. Regular people are teaching robots to do laundry.
MSure, but 'ten people deciding' is the internet doing that thing where a big number sounds like a conspiracy.
CIs it wrong though? A handful of founders and investors are betting billions on which robot gets mass produced.
MAnd consumers decide with their wallets. That's how every market works.
CBut robots in a house are different. They'll know your habits, your home layout, maybe your schedule.
MSo now you're worried? You're the one who wanted the robot army.
CI'm saying the stakes are higher than a phone. Ten people building that future should get more scrutiny.
MAnd here I thought you were the optimist.
CI'm optimistic, not naive. There's a difference.
MLook, Figure and Skild are real companies with real money. But the post also says SoftBank led the Skild round. I haven't seen that confirmed.
CFair enough. So which part should we trust?
MExactly. The valuation's real; the SoftBank part is the post's claim.
CFine. But the underlying question stands.
MWho gets to build the home robot? The answer isn't ten people. It's whoever ships something that doesn't fall down the stairs.
CThat's a low bar, but it's the right bar.
MAnd nobody's cleared it yet.
CNot even close.