Thomas Unise
The Robot Report’s annual Year in Review podcast (Episode 225) brought together the publication’s editorial team to analyze the most significant developments in robotics throughout 2025. Host Steve Crowe and editors Mike Oitzman, Eugene Demaitre, and Brianna Wessling examined key industry events from bankruptcies and acquisitions to technological breakthroughs and geopolitical impacts.
Major Corporate Restructuring
One of the most notable events was iRobot’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which culminated in its acquisition by a Chinese creditor. The editors discussed how both regulatory hurdles and internal management decisions contributed to the company’s downfall.
Zebra Technologies made headlines by winding down its Fetch-based mobile robot division, while ABB sold its robotics unit to SoftBank in a massive $5.4 billion deal. Intel also spun out its RealSense division, potentially enabling the vision-based sensor company to innovate more rapidly as an independent entity.
The Humanoid Robot Explosion
2025 saw unprecedented investment in humanoid robot companies, with over $3.5 billion poured into the sector. Figure AI alone secured $1 billion in funding, signaling strong market confidence in embodied AI systems. This surge in investment coincided with significant advancements in physical AI capabilities.
Tech Giants’ Robotics Milestones
Amazon reached a symbolic milestone by deploying its one millionth robot and continued development of its Vulcan robot platform. Meanwhile, Waymo faced growing pains as it scaled its autonomous vehicle fleet, including high-profile incidents involving school buses and complications during power outages in San Francisco.
Geopolitical Influence on Robotics
The podcast highlighted how ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have permanently transformed the role of autonomous systems in warfare. These geopolitical factors are also reshaping manufacturing priorities and defense applications for robotics technology.
Home Robotics Innovation
Several companies introduced novel approaches to home automation, with 1X, Sunday Robotics, and Weave Robotics among those pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in residential settings.
Industry Expert Insights
The episode featured commentary from several industry leaders:
- Evan Helda from Nebius discussed data engines, world models, and pipelines for complex AI systems
- Chris Matthieu of RealSense shared perspectives on open-source brains for physical AI and the emergence of robot sports
- John Santagate of EMP Advisors identified three monumental developments of 2025: humanoids, tote-to-person systems, and multi-agent orchestration
Looking Forward
As the robotics industry continues to evolve rapidly, the podcast offered valuable context for understanding how 2025’s developments might shape the field in 2026 and beyond. The convergence of AI advancements, major corporate restructuring, and changing geopolitical landscapes suggests that robotics will remain a dynamic and transformative sector in the coming year.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings