Foundation Future Industries says it is exploring weaponized humanoid robots

In short: A US startup says it is working toward humanoid robots for military use and is exploring weapons, with Eric Trump involved as an investor and adviser.

What happened

Foundation Future Industries, a startup founded in 2024, told WIRED that it plans to start giving its humanoid robots “lethal capabilities” soon. CEO Sankaet Pathak said the company is exploring “kinetic things,” which is another way of saying weapons systems, but he did not share details. He said the company may reveal more in the next couple of months.

The company says its robots could also help with logistics, reconnaissance, and inspection. In everyday terms, that could mean moving supplies, scouting areas, and checking buildings or equipment, like sending a machine in first instead of a person.

Foundation says it has tested a robot called Phantom MK1 with Ukrainian forces. It also says it has government contracts worth millions, but WIRED reports the details are unclear. The company shared information about contracts inherited through its acquisition of Boardwalk Robotics and work tied to the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, a Florida nonprofit known for humanoid research.

Eric Trump is an investor and the company’s chief strategy adviser. He discussed the robots on Fox Business on April 23, describing interactions like fist bumps and following commands.

Why it matters

Putting weapons on human-shaped robots raises big questions about safety, control, and accountability. Some robotics experts told WIRED that fully autonomous robot soldiers are still a long way off, especially in messy, unpredictable places like damaged buildings. As one expert put it, getting from a lab demo to real deployment can take more than a decade.

Source: Wired