Can we really build a $10,000 humanoid robot on open-source AI? In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier talks with Chris Kudla, CEO of Mind Children, about a radically different approach to humanoid robots. Instead of six-figure industrial machines built for factories or war zones, Mind Children is building small, safe, friendly social robots designed for kids, classrooms, and elder care.

Is AI really the new UI, or is that just another tech buzzphrase? Or ... is AI actually EVERY user interface now? In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier sits down with Mark Vange, CEO & founder of Automate.ly and former CTO at Electronic Arts, to unpack what happens when interfaces stop being fixed and start being generated on the fly.

X is allowing only “verified” users to create images with Grok. Experts say it represents the “monetization of abuse”—and anyone can still generate images on Grok’s app and website.

The web is turning agentic. And an agentic web changes everything from shopping to search to SEO. In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier sits down with Dave Anderson (VP at ContentSquare + host of the “Tech Seeking Human” podcast) to unpack what happens when browsers and AI assistants don’t just answer … they do stuff. For you. On your behalf.

Just posted to my Forbes column about why the future of robot competitions shouldn’t look anything like the human Olympics. We already have robot marathons, boxing matches, and humanoid games that test athleticism. But former Google roboticist Benjie Holson argues we’re missing the point. What actually matters isn’t whether robots can run fast or punch hard, it’s whether they can open a door, fold laundry, clean a countertop, or use basic tools in messy, unpredictable environments.

Just posted to my Forbes column about how China is rethinking the laws of robotics—and what that says about the future of AI and humanoid robots globally. The 2004 movie I, Robot popularized Isaac Asimov’s three elegant laws of robotics: don’t harm humans, obey humans, and protect yourself in that order. China, however, is moving in a very different direction. Instead of three high-level principles, it’s proposing a detailed, state-centric framework of 24 rules governing AI systems and robots, from content controls and emotional manipulation to audits, algorithm registration, and mandatory human takeover in crisis scenarios.

Just posted to my Forbes column about why surviving the current wave of tech layoffs may have less to do with fighting AI—and more to do with partnering with it. 2025 has been a rough year for tech workers, with layoffs sweeping through companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google, even as many of them report strong earnings. Against that backdrop, longtime founder and resilience expert Nikki Barua argues that the real career shift isn’t about learning a few AI tools—it’s about becoming what she calls an “agentic human.” I spoke with her recently on the TechFirst podcast where she made the case that humans must move from doing work to directing outcomes, leading with judgment, creativity, taste and empathy while letting AI handle execution-heavy tasks.

Just posted to my Forbes column about a very different vision for AI agents—one that goes far beyond emails and meeting notes and straight onto the factory floor. In the piece, I talk with Federico Martelli, CEO of Swiss startup Forgis, which is building AI agents designed to act like mini-engineers inside manufacturing plants. Instead of ripping out old equipment and replacing it with shiny new robots, Forgis layers intelligence on top of existing machines—even decades-old ones—to reduce downtime by around 30% and boost output by roughly 20%.

Just posted to my Forbes column about a new and sobering analysis on how AI could reshape teen employment in the U.S. ... and why teens may be hit harder than adults. The research comes from Karissa Tang, a California high school senior who analyzed public data and existing studies to estimate that AI could eliminate more than one in four teen jobs by 2030.

Just posted to my Forbes column about a breakthrough that could fundamentally change how robots interact with people—and how they protect themselves. Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a neuromorphic robotic “e-skin” that works much more like human skin. Instead of routing every touch signal up to a central CPU or GPU, this skin senses pressure, detects damage, and even triggers instant local reflexes—much like the way your spinal cord yanks your hand away from a hot stove before your brain catches up.

Just posted to my Forbes column about what might be one of the most consequential humanoid robot launches we’ve seen so far. At CES in Las Vegas, Agibot didn’t just tease concepts—it rolled out a full commercial lineup for the U.S. market. That includes the A2 humanoid for reception and front-of-house roles, the smaller X2 for demos and performances, the G2 industrial humanoid for factories and warehouses, and even the D1 quadruped for outdoor mobility, patrol and load-carrying.

Just posted to my Forbes column about Boston Dynamics’ newest Atlas humanoid ... and why one quote from its CEO really stood out to me. This week at CES in Las Vegas, Boston Dynamics unveiled its latest Atlas robot, and the numbers alone are striking: the entire 2026 production run is already sold, and its majority owner Hyundai Motor Group is planning a robot factory capable of shipping 30,000 units a year.

Just posted to my Forbes column about LG’s bold (and very ambitious) vision for a truly “zero labor home.” In the piece, I dig into LG Electronics’ latest home robot concept, CLOiD, which the company unveiled at CES in Las Vegas. The idea is simple and incredibly appealing: a future where laundry folds itself, meals get prepped, dishes are handled and housework fades into the background.

AI has mastered language, sort of. Mostly. With some occasional hiccups. But the real world is way messier. For the real world -- and robotics -- we need world models. In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier sits down with Kirin Sinha, founder and CEO of Illumix, to explore what comes after large language models: world models, spatial intelligence, and physical AI.

Quantum computers usually mean massive machines, cryogenic temperatures, and isolated data centers. But what if quantum computing could run at room temperature, fit inside a server rack — or even a satellite? In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier sits down with Marcus Doherty, Chief Science Officer of Quantum Brilliance, to explore how diamond-based quantum computers work, and why they could unlock scalable, edge-deployed quantum systems.