Technology
Apollo the robot joins Mercedes-Benz assembly line production
You just knew this was coming. No doubt, you’ve heard about the staffing shortages in factories. And guess what? The solution seems to be robots.
At Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing in Hungary, they’ve swapped out some of their human workers for humanoid robots right there on the factory floor. These futuristic robots are produced by Apptronik, a Texas-based company.
Mercedes-Benz and Apptronik have teamed up to explore how these robots can lend a helping hand to their human counterparts. The goal? To tackle staffing challenges during the manufacturing process.
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Apollo, the humanoid robot at a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
The humanoid robot workmate
The humanoid robots are called Apollo. Standing at a height of 5 feet 8 inches and weighing in at 160 pounds, Apollo mirrors the proportions of a human worker. Its mission? To collaborate seamlessly with its human counterparts while tackling physically demanding tasks.
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Apollo the robot works at a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
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The robot’s strength and agility
Apollo’s powerful arms can lift up to 55 pounds at a time, making it a valuable asset in an assembly line environment. Its swappable battery ensures a runtime of approximately four hours per pack, enough to keep it going through a productive shift.
Apollo the humanoid robot does work in a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
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Is the robot safe?
Apollo’s unique force control architecture allows it to operate safely alongside humans. Think of it as a collaborative robot, not an industrial behemoth. No need to barricade off sections of the factory; Apollo integrates seamlessly into existing spaces.
Apollo the robot works on a car at a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
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The robot’s applications in manufacturing facilities
Apollo’s first task? Logistics. It shuttles parts to the production line, ensuring workers have what they need to assemble vehicles. So, for example, Apollo delivers assembly kits while simultaneously inspecting components. Later in the process, Apollo takes on another critical role: delivering totes of kitted parts. These neatly organized containers contain everything necessary for specific assembly steps.
Apollo the robot at a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
How the robot is bridging the labor gap
Mercedes-Benz faces a common challenge: finding reliable workers for physically demanding, repetitive, dull tasks. That’s where Apollo comes in and bridges the gap. The company says these robots allow them to automate tasks and free up skilled employees to focus on higher-value work. They say it’s a win-win for productivity and job satisfaction. However, it’s unclear how many robots will be used at their factories.
A close-up of Apollo the humanoid robot on a Mercedes-Benz factory floor. (Apptronik)
Robots on the assembly line
But Mercedes-Benz isn’t the only player in this game. Earlier this year, BMW made waves by partnering with California-based Figure to put its robots to the test. The star of the show? Figure’s 01 robot, currently hard at work in BMW’s U.S. factories located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are still fine-tuning their approach, figuring out how best to leverage these robots. The goal? To automate those tricky, unsafe or downright tedious tasks that have traditionally fallen on human shoulders. From delivering and inspecting parts to working alongside skilled workers, these robots are poised to revolutionize the assembly line.
Is this a step in the right direction, or is this just another way to replace human jobs with automation, potentially leading to job displacement? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard
When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”
Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.
This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”
Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”
Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”
Technology
Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed
UCF commencement speaker Gloria Caulfield (University of Central Florida via Storyful)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’
– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age
– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member
TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.
A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)
BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.
TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.
EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.
FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.
ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.
BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
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Technology
Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs
Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.
In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.
Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.
You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.
Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”
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