JD.com Says Robots Will Replace Its 700,000 Couriers
JD.com founder Richard Liu told the APEC China CEO Forum that robots will eventually replace the company’s 700,000 couriers, but unveiled a "Nirvana" reskilling programme with about 120 partner schools to transition workers into robot‑maintenance and AI‑trainer roles. JD already runs a highly automated logistics network that includes unmanned warehouses, drone deliveries and self‑driving vans. The announcement spotlights a clash between massive automation potential and job security in a market where gig workers number roughly 320 million and youth unemployment sits at 16.3%. Liu pledged the firm will not fire displaced staff, betting on rapid retraining.
NOVARC LAUNCHES NovAI AUTONOMY AS PART OF NovAI SUITE AND EXPANDS INTEGRATION TO YASKAWA AND ABB ROBOTS
Novarc Technologies unveiled NovAI Autonomy, part of its NovAI Suite, at Automate 2026, demonstrating AI‑driven vision and adaptive welding on ABB and Yaskawa robots. The rollout also featured the NovHub enterprise welding intelligence platform and NovPlan offline programming software, which can...
12 APAC Robots to Watch in 2026: Humanoids, Robot Dogs, and Real-World AI
The Asia‑Pacific is emerging as the global hub for embodied AI, with China leading humanoid shipments and South Korea and Japan deploying robots in logistics, retail, and elder‑care. Forecasts show China’s humanoid sales could reach 28,000 units in 2026 and...
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India Looks to Increase Its Unmanned Warfare Capabilities
India’s Ministry of Defence has announced a $2 bn indigenous unmanned systems procurement, targeting high‑altitude long‑endurance, maritime patrol and electronic‑warfare UAVs. The order, slated for delivery within 18‑24 months, will be fulfilled by private firms Adani Group, Tata Advanced Systems and...
GM Installs Robots At Flagship EV Factory After Laying Off 1,300 Workers
General Motors installed about 50 FANUC robot arms at its Detroit Factory Zero EV plant to automate component attachment. The move comes while 1,300 workers remain on indefinite layoff after a March temporary shutdown, and the United Auto Workers has...
Powering the Automated Floor: Intralogistics Operators Must Unify AGV Charging Infrastructure
The rapid rollout of AGVs and AMRs is reshaping factories, but many operators still treat vehicle charging as a siloed procurement task. Fragmented, vendor‑specific chargers drive up capital spend, overload grid connections, and consume valuable floor space. Industry experts argue...