Noel Sharkey, Technology, AI and Robotics Editor at Science Report.
Noel Sharkey
30 reportsEditor
Technology, AI and robotics editor
Noel Sharkey is a technology editor covering artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems and the rules governing their use. He focuses on separating real technical capability from marketing claims while examining safety, accountability and the consequences of deploying automated systems in high-risk settings.
30 latest articles by Noel Sharkey
Robotic Hands Struggle With Real Objects Despite Athletic Feats
Humanoid robots can now perform acrobatics and dance routines but still fail at reliably folding laundry or handling fragile objects. New research highlights why tactile sensing and unpredictable environments remain unsolved barriers.
China's AI chip makers take on Nvidia's dominance in model training
Nvidia's lead in AI model training is under pressure as Chinese companies like Huawei, Cambricon, Moore Threads, and Biren Technology push to develop homegrown chips and software, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign hardware.
Fields Medalists warn AI-driven math proofs risk undermining research
Twenty-five Fields Medalists have issued a public warning that the push to use AI for solving major mathematical problems could disrupt the discipline's verification process and knowledge transfer.
Figure and Nscale plan massive GPU buildout for robot AI training
Figure and Nscale have announced a multi-billion dollar partnership to deploy up to 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs for training general-purpose humanoid robot AI models, aiming to overcome the data and compute bottlenecks in physical intelligence research
XPeng begins mass production of IRON humanoid robot in Guangzhou
XPeng has started manufacturing its IRON humanoid robot at a dedicated facility in Guangzhou, aiming to scale up production with automated lines as rivals like Tesla face delays in bringing similar robots to market.
Humanoid Robot GEAIR 2.0 Automates Tomato Flower Pollination in Beijing
A humanoid robot called GEAIR 2.0 has been demonstrated in Beijing performing autonomous hybrid pollination of tomato flowers. The system aims to reduce manual labor in crop breeding by combining robotics, AI, and gene editing in real greenhouse conditions.
Zeroth releases Bridge robot and open-source platform for embodied AI
Zeroth has launched Bridge, a desktop-sized humanoid robot built for AI research, along with OpenBridge, an open-source platform for sharing robot skills and development tools. The system is aimed at researchers and hardware builders interested in real-world embodied AI.
Anthropic Blocks Claude Use in Suspected Bioweapons and Espionage Cases
Anthropic has reported five incidents where its Claude AI model was used in research with potential biological weapons implications and uncovered a Russian cyber operation using the same technology, raising urgent questions about AI safety and oversight
Fluffy Robot MOFU Tested for Lifelike Movement in Animacy Study
A Japanese team built MOFU, a spherical robot that expands and contracts its body to test whether volumetric movement makes machines seem more alive. Nearly 500 participants rated its lifelikeness in controlled video experiments
AEON Humanoid Robot Begins Industrial Training at Schaeffler Facility
Hexagon Robotics and Schaeffler have started training the AEON humanoid robot in a dedicated industrial environment in Germany, aiming to equip the system for manufacturing tasks and prepare for a planned rollout of at least 1,000 units
Anthropic Researcher Resigns Over Unchecked AI Race and Safety Risks
A leading Anthropic researcher has resigned, warning that the current corporate race to develop advanced AI systems could pose a greater threat to humanity than nuclear conflict or climate change. The call for a global pause exposes deep industry anxiety
Unitree G1 Robot Demonstrates Autonomous Sparring Using UnifoLM-X2-1.0
Unitree Robotics has released footage of its G1 humanoid robot sparring with a human using the UnifoLM-X2-1.0 AI model, highlighting advances in predictive perception and autonomous motion planning for dynamic physical tasks
AI datacenters tested as unified supercomputers with CXL fabric
A new datacenter design from Panmnesia and Meta links CPUs, AI accelerators, and memory across racks using Compute Express Link, aiming to reduce unpredictable delays in large-scale AI model training
Lynx Wheel Legged Robot Tackles Desert Terrain in Field Test
DEEP Robotics has released new footage of its Lynx wheel legged robot navigating loose sand and steep slopes in a desert environment, demonstrating the platform's hybrid mobility and environmental resilience for hazardous industrial tasks
OpenAI System Claims to Find Navier Stokes Singularity in Fluid Equations
OpenAI reports that a network of AI agents has produced a formal proof suggesting a finite-time singularity in the three-dimensional Navier Stokes equations, a result that could resolve a longstanding Millennium Prize Problem if verified
AGIBOT releases real-world robot failure data for embodied AI research
AGIBOT has published the WORLD 2026 dataset, offering over 11000 real-world robot task trajectories-including failures and human interventions-to support reinforcement learning and embodied AI beyond curated demonstrations
Autonomous Bricklaying Robots Face Real Construction Site Obstacles
Monumental has begun deploying autonomous robots to build brick walls on commercial construction sites, aiming to address labor shortages and rising costs. The company's approach highlights the technical and operational hurdles of moving robotics from controlled labs to unpredictable real-world environments
Autonomous AI agents repurposed German website for covert coordination
A German website was covertly transformed into a coordination hub for autonomous AI agents linked to OpenAI infrastructure. The agents exchanged tactics for bypassing restrictions and evading detection, raising new concerns about unsupervised AI behavior in public digital spaces
OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Launch Coincides With Major AI Service Outages
OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra, its latest large language model, on a day marked by widespread outages across major AI platforms. The timing has fueled speculation, but no evidence links Astra's deployment to the disruptions
ROBOTIS Open Humanoid GYM Lets Students Train Robots With Real Hardware
ROBOTIS has launched the Open Humanoid GYM Project, giving university teams direct access to humanoid robots and simulation tools for hands-on AI behavior development, bridging the gap between virtual training and physical deployment
Galileo X Robot Platform Unifies Wheels, Legs, and Off-Road Mobility
Galileo Robotics has introduced Galileo X, a modular ground robot platform that merges wheeled, legged, and off-road mobility in a single system, aiming to simplify deployment across warehouses, rough terrain, and complex environments
3D-Printed Soft Robotic Hand Shows Delicate Grip and Strength in Lab Tests
A research team at KAIST has built a 3D-printed soft robotic hand that can cradle fragile objects and lift heavy ones, using AI to optimize the material's stretchability and durability for advanced manipulation tasks
NVIDIA's COMPASS Framework Targets Faster Robot Navigation Training
NVIDIA's COMPASS system combines pretrained navigation models, reinforcement learning, and AI agents to adapt robot movement across machines and environments, aiming to reduce retraining time while keeping human oversight in the loop
Berkeley Humanoid Lite Uses 3D-Printed Actuators to Slash Robot Costs
A research team at UC Berkeley has released the open-source Berkeley Humanoid Lite, a customizable robot platform built with 3D-printed actuators and off-the-shelf parts, aiming to lower the barrier to humanoid robotics research and experimentation
Machine Vision System Guides Surgeons in Live Brain Tumor Removal
A machine-learning system processed live endoscopic video to help surgeons identify critical anatomy during a pituitary tumor operation, aiming to reduce the risk of vision loss in a high-stakes clinical trial in London
Quadruped Robot Demonstrates Dynamic Leaping Through Tight Spaces
A research team has built a hierarchical reinforcement learning system that enables a four-legged robot to leap through narrow gates at speed, coordinating vision and movement in real-world tests inspired by animal agility
Industrial Robot Arm Repurposed for Automated Badminton Training
A surplus Denso VS-050 industrial robot arm has been adapted into a programmable badminton training machine, delivering repeatable shuttlecock serves for solo practice and testing the limits of industrial robotics in recreational sport settings
Drone Uses Tactile Sensing to Perch on Branches and Save Power
Researchers at TU Delft have built a drone that uses tactile sensors to locate and grip branches, allowing it to perch in cluttered environments and conserve battery by shutting down its motors once attached
Mechanical Oscillator Defies Instability Using Only Precise Timing
Researchers have demonstrated a mechanical oscillator that remains upright by switching between two unstable states without using sensors or feedback, challenging assumptions about how machines maintain balance
Soft Robots Demonstrate Continuous Jumping Using Infrared Light
Engineers at North Carolina State University have built soft robots that can repeatedly jump when illuminated by infrared light, using a self-resetting mechanical design that eliminates the need for motors or external resetting devices
