Technology
Chinese humanoid robot could be the future of affordable in-home care
Did you know that the average annual cost of in-home care in the U.S. has now surpassed $60,000? It’s a staggering figure that’s leaving many families scrambling for alternatives. But what if I told you that an unlikely solution might be just around the corner?
Enter the world of humanoid robots. Chinese company Fourier Intelligence’s latest creation, the GR-2 humanoid robot, is pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible in elderly care and assistance for people with disabilities. This advanced machine isn’t just about replacing human caregivers — it’s about enhancing the quality of life for those who need assistance the most.
Think about it: With the global population of adults aged 65 and older expected to double by 2050, we’re facing a potential care crisis. Humanoid robots like the GR-2 could be the solution we need, offering a level of consistent, personalized care. So, are you ready to explore how this futuristic technology could revolutionize home care and potentially save families thousands of dollars a year? Let’s dive into the GR-2 and see what the future of caregiving might look like.
GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS — SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER — THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
A bigger, stronger, smarter humanoid
The GR-2 stands an impressive 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 139 pounds, making it a substantial presence in any room. This increased size allows for greater strength and stability, which is crucial for tasks such as helping individuals move or transfer from beds to wheelchairs.
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
THE CREEPY YET HELPFUL HUMANOID ROBOT READY TO MOVE INTO YOUR HOME
Impressive hardware upgrades
Fourier has made significant improvements to the GR-2’s hardware. The robot can now generate peak torques exceeding 280 pound-feet, a considerable increase from its predecessor. This enhanced strength translates to improved agility and dynamic capabilities, allowing the GR-2 to perform a wider range of tasks with ease.
The robot’s battery life has also seen a substantial upgrade. A new detachable battery doubles the capacity, extending runtime by an hour. This improvement allows the GR-2 to operate for longer periods without needing a recharge, enhancing its usefulness in home care settings.
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
ROBOTS REPLACE HUMAN WINDOW WASHERS ON SKYSCRAPERS
Precision in motion
One of the GR-2’s standout features is its ability to perform complex tasks with greater precision. The robot now boasts 12 degrees of freedom in its hands, doubling the dexterity of previous models. Equipped with six array-type tactile sensors, the GR-2 can sense force, identify object shapes and materials, and adjust its grip in real time. This level of sensitivity allows for safe and accurate interactions with various objects, which is crucial for assisting with daily tasks.
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
ROBOTS GET A FEEL FOR HUMAN TOUCH, NO ARTIFICIAL SKIN REQUIRED
Powering dynamic mobility
Fourier has developed seven distinct actuators for the GR-2, each tailored to meet specific torque demands of every joint. This innovation allows the robot to navigate complex tasks with greater flexibility and responsiveness, mimicking human-like movements more closely than ever before.
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
HOW SCAMMERS ARE USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR FINANCIAL SCAMS AND HOW TO STOP THEM
Developer-friendly platform
While the GR-2 shows promise for immediate applications, it’s also designed as a learning platform for robotics developers and researchers. The robot is compatible with common robotics development software tools, including ROS, Mujoco and NVIDIA’s Isaac Lab. This compatibility allows developers to train the robot to perform complex tasks through artificial intelligence, paving the way for even more advanced capabilities in the future.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
When will the humanoid robot be available?
Although the GR-2 humanoid robot is still in development and not yet available as a consumer product, the rapid advancements in AI technology emerging from China suggest that we may soon see these innovations hitting our shores. With companies like Fourier Intelligence leading the charge, the potential for sophisticated robotic solutions to transform home care is becoming increasingly tangible. As these technologies continue to evolve, they promise not only to enhance the quality of life for those in need but also to reshape the landscape of caregiving on a global scale.
HOW SCAMMERS USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR FINANCIAL SCAMS AND HOW TO STOP THEM
GR-2 humanoid robot. (Fourier)
SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES
Kurt’s key takeaways
The GR-2 represents a significant step forward in humanoid robotics, showcasing improvements in strength, dexterity, and adaptability. While still primarily a development platform, it hints at a future where robots could become integral parts of our homes, providing assistance and care where it’s needed most.
Would you feel comfortable with a humanoid robot like the GR-2 helping you out at home in your later years? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Anker’s last-gen sleep buds are nearly 40 percent off ahead of daylight saving time
Bad news: most Americans are about to lose an hour of sleep next week. Good news: if you have trouble falling (or staying asleep), Newegg is currently selling Anker’s Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds for $113.99 ($66 off) when you use coupon code MMSF88 at checkout, which drops them to just $6 shy of their lowest price to date.
A couple of us here at The Verge are fans of Anker’s last-gen sleep buds, which do a good job of muffling disruptive noises (including snoring). They’re lightweight and comfortable enough to wear overnight, even while sleeping on your side, with multiple ear tips and wings for a personalized fit. In fact, in his review, my colleague Thomas Ricker said that they improved his average sleep time by nearly 30 minutes within a two-week period.
What’s even more convenient is that they offer a variety of sleep-focused features to help you rest better. For example, you can use them to play a range of relaxing sounds, from meditation exercises and nature clips to white noise. You can use them as a regular pair of Bluetooth earbuds, too, just in case you prefer to listen to audiobooks or your own curated sleep playlist. They even come with adjustable EQ as well, though we wouldn’t recommend using them as your primary earbuds for music, given that they can’t match the audio quality you’d get from a pair of midrange earbuds from Apple, Sony, or Bose.
In addition, the Sleep A20 offer up to 14 hours of battery life and sleep tracking, providing insights into how long and how well you’ve slept via a companion app that also details your sleep positions and movements. The newer Soundcore Sleep A30 feature active noise cancellation, which is more effective at masking sounds than the A20’s passive isolation, but Anker’s last-gen earbuds remain a decent, budget-friendly option that can help you comfortably tune out most nighttime distractions for nearly half the price.
Technology
Figure data breach exposes nearly 1M accounts
Cyber expert shares tips to avoid AI phishing scams
Kurt ‘The CyberGuy’ Knutsson shares practical ways to avoid falling victim to AI-generated phishing scams and discusses a report that North Korean agents are posing as I.T. workers to funnel money into the country’s nuclear program.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
If you have applied for a loan online, you probably shared more than you realized. Your name. Your email. Your date of birth. Maybe even your home address and phone number. Now imagine all of that sitting on a dark web forum.
That is the reality for nearly 1 million people after hackers breached Figure Technology Solutions, a blockchain-focused fintech lender.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
What happened in the Figure data breach
Figure Technology Solutions, founded in 2018, uses the Provenance blockchain for lending, borrowing and securities trading. The company says it has unlocked more than $22 billion in home equity through partnerships with banks, credit unions, fintechs and home improvement companies. However, behind the scenes, attackers were working on a very different angle.
GOOGLE DROPPED DARK WEB MONITORING: SHOULD YOU CARE?
Nearly 1 million accounts were exposed after hackers breached fintech lender Figure Technology Solutions in a social engineering attack. (Felix Zahn/Photothek via Getty Images)
According to breach notification data shared by Have I Been Pwned, information from 967,200 accounts was exposed. The leaked data included more than 900,000 unique email addresses along with names, phone numbers, physical addresses and dates of birth. That is a gold mine for identity thieves. Figure says the incident stemmed from a social engineering attack. What that means in simple terms is that someone inside the company was tricked into handing over access.
“We recently identified that an employee was socially engineered, and that allowed an actor to download a limited number of files through their account,” a Figure Technology Solutions spokesperson told CyberGuy in a statement. “We acted quickly to block the activity and retained a forensic firm to investigate what files were affected. We understand the importance of these matters and are communicating with partners and those impacted as appropriate. We are also implementing additional safeguards and training to further strengthen our defenses. We are offering complimentary credit monitoring to all individuals who receive a notice. We continuously monitor accounts and have strong safeguards in place to protect customers’ funds and accounts.”
Social engineering is the real weapon
When people hear the word blockchain, they think secure and untouchable. But attackers did not break cryptography. They targeted a human being. Groups like ShinyHunters specialize in this playbook. They reportedly claimed responsibility for the breach and, according to BleepingComputer, posted 2.5GB of data allegedly tied to thousands of loan applicants.
In recent weeks, the same group has claimed breaches involving companies like Canada Goose, Panera Bread and SoundCloud. Not every case is connected. Still, security researchers have observed a troubling pattern. Attackers impersonate IT support. They call employees. They create urgency. Then they direct victims to fake login portals that look nearly identical to real ones.
Once employees enter credentials and even multi-factor authentication codes, attackers gain access to single sign-on systems tied to major platforms like Microsoft and Google. From there, one compromised account can unlock a web of connected tools and internal systems.
PANERA BREAD DATA BREACH EXPOSES 5.1M CUSTOMERS
Security researchers say the Figure data leak underscores how social engineering bypasses even blockchain-based platforms. (Maxim Konankov/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Why this matters to you
If your information was part of the Figure data breach, criminals now have enough detail to craft convincing phishing emails or phone scams. They can reference your real name. They can cite your address. They can pretend to be a lender or bank calling about your application.
Even if you never applied for a loan with Figure, this incident highlights something bigger. No platform is immune to human error. And social engineering works because it targets trust, not technology.
The bigger lesson about blockchain and trust
Figure markets itself as blockchain native. Blockchain can provide transparency and strong cryptographic security. However, none of that protects against a well-crafted phone call.
Security failures often happen at the human layer. That is where attackers focus their energy. As more financial services move online, the attack surface grows. Loan applications, identity verification tools and cloud-based systems create convenience. They also create new targets.
How to protect yourself after the Figure data breach
You cannot control how companies secure their systems. You can control how you respond. Start by checking whether your email address appears in the exposed dataset, then take the steps below to lock down your accounts.
SUBSTACK DATA BREACH EXPOSES EMAILS AND PHONE NUMBERS
Figure says an employee was tricked into granting access, allowing attackers to download sensitive customer data. (Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Check if your email was exposed
To see if your email address was affected, visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/. Enter your email address to find out whether your information appears in the leak. When finished, return here and begin Step 1 below.
Take these steps immediately
- Change any exposed passwords right away. Do not leave a known leaked password in place. Update it everywhere you used it. Use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for every account. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com
- Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
- Never share login codes with anyone, even if they claim to be IT support.
- Install strong antivirus software to help block phishing links, malicious downloads and ransomware that often follow major breaches. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
- Consider a data removal service to reduce your personal information on data broker sites, which scammers often combine with breached data. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
- Place a free fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus.
- Monitor your bank and credit card statements weekly for suspicious activity.
Also, be cautious of unexpected calls about your accounts. If someone pressures you to act immediately, hang up and call the company directly using a number from its official website.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The Figure data breach is a reminder that technology alone cannot protect sensitive information. A single employee tricked into revealing credentials can expose hundreds of thousands of people. That is not a blockchain failure. It is a trust failure. If your data was involved, take action now. Even if it was not, treat this as a wake-up call. Your personal information has value. Criminals know it. Companies should know it too.
If one phone call can unlock nearly a million records, are companies investing enough in training people, or are they still betting everything on technology alone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Apple’s website leaks MacBook ‘Neo,’ which could be its new cheaper laptop
During Apple’s week-long product launch event on Tuesday, a listing for the “MacBook Neo (Model A3404)” appeared on a regulatory compliance page on Apple’s website under its line-up of 2026 MacBooks. First spotted by MacRumors, the listing appears to be an accident and has since been removed, but may have been a leaked reference to a rumored entry-level MacBook. Unfortunately, it didn’t include any additional details beyond the device’s name and model number.
The lower price and an “entirely new design” could help the new MacBook appeal to students and casual users, competing with Chromebooks and low-cost Windows laptops. A more affordable MacBook could be especially appealing after Apple announced the M5 MacBook Air on Tuesday, which has a higher starting price than last year’s Air.
-
World6 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts7 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO7 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Florida3 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Maryland3 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Thrilling Books That Became Popular Movies