Robot soldiers are being built in America to fight tomorrow’s wars - and the alarm is growing

Key Points:

• Foundation Future Industries, a San Francisco-based start-up founded in 2024, is developing humanoid robots for factory automation, mega-city construction, and military applications, including potential autonomous weapons.
• Despite opposition from the Catholic Church, the United Nations, and many tech companies, Foundation argues that humanoid military robots could make warfare more precise, reduce civilian casualties, and save soldiers' lives, especially amid an ongoing autonomous arms race involving countries like China and Russia.
• The company's flagship robot, Phantom, is a six-foot tall humanoid capable of carrying heavy loads and operating autonomously or via remote control, with current military contracts reportedly totaling around $24 million and interest from the Department of Homeland Security for border patrol uses.
• Critics, including Human Rights Watch, warn of the risks posed by autonomous weapons, such as errors, lack of accountability, and escalation of conflict, stressing the need for international regulation to prevent catastrophic consequences.
• Foundation's long-term vision includes building robot-constructed green mega-cities and a post-work society, but co-founder Sankaet Pathak expresses concern about a potential populist backlash against AI and robotics, which could lead to social unrest.