Physical Ai

Washington – October 13, 2026 -- China installed 295,000 industrial robots in 2024, 54% of the global total, versus 34,200 in the United States, according to the preliminary report of the National Security Commission on Robotics for Advanced Manufacturing, an initiative of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP).

The Commission is co-chaired by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari. It finds that the U.S. leads in the technologies forming the "brain" of robotics, including AI, computer vision, autonomy and software. It lacks the scale to deploy robots, produce robotic systems and manufacture critical components domestically.

New York – October 13, 2026 -- Empiric Earth has named Jen Vescio, a board member since April and former Chief Business Development Officer at Uber, as President, effective immediately. She reports to Chief Executive Officer Zach Greenberger.

Vescio takes charge of buy, build and partner functions across four units

Vescio leads Product, Corporate Development/IR, Business Development/Sales and Marketing. She also oversees the post-M&A integration of the two merged companies. Her remit covers corporate strategy and commercialization of the business.

The appointment follows the September merger of Nexar and Nauto, which has since been rebranded Empiric Earth. The company says it was formed in 2026 through that combination.

Düsseldorf – October 12, 2026 -- WITEX 2027, a new B2B exhibition for the Physical AI value chain, will open at Messe Düsseldorf on May 12–14, 2027, with organizers targeting more than 300 technology providers and 15,000 trade visitors.

The World AIoT Innovation Alliance (WAIA) is organizing the show to connect global technology suppliers with European industrial buyers. Target applications span manufacturing, logistics, energy, healthcare and commercial services.

Four technology segments cover the Physical AI chain from sensing to simulation

The exhibition is divided into four areas: