Of all the jarring things I’ve witnessed on the National Mall, nothing will beat the image of the first thing I saw after I cleared security at the Army festival: a child, sitting at the controls of an M119A3 Howitzer, being instructed by a soldier on how to aim it, as his red-hatted parents took a photo with the Washington Monument in the background.
Technology
Tanks, guns and face-painting
The primary stated reason for the Grand Military Parade is to celebrate the US Army’s 250th birthday. The second stated reason is to use the event for recruiting purposes. Like other military branches, the Army has struggled to meet its enlistment quotas for over the past decade. And according to very defensive Army spokespeople trying to convince skeptics that the parade was not for Donald Trump’s birthday, there had always been a festival planned on the National Mall that day, and it had been in the works for over two years, and the parade, tacked on just two months ago, was purely incidental. Assuming that their statement was true, I wasn’t quite sure if they had anticipated so many people in blatant MAGA swag in attendance — or how eager they were to bring their children and hand them assault rifles.
There had been kid-friendly events planned: an NFL Kids Zone with a photo op with the Washington Commanders’ mascot, a few face-painting booths, several rock-climbing walls. But they were dwarfed, literally, by dozens of war machines parked along the jogging paths: massive tanks, trucks with gun-mounted turrets, assault helicopters, many of them currently used in combat, all with helpful signs explaining the history of each vehicle, as well as the guns and ammo it could carry. And the families — wearing everything from J6 shirts to Vineyard Vines — were drawn more to the military vehicles, all-too-ready to place their kids in the cockpit of an AH-1F Cobra 998 helicopter as they pretended to aim the nose-mounted 3-barrelled Gatling Cannon. Parents told their children to smile as they poked their little heads out of the hatch of an M1135 Stryker armored vehicle; reminded them to be patient as they waited in line to sit inside an M109A7 self-propelled Howitzer with a 155MM rifled cannon.
But seeing a kid’s happiness of being inside a big thing that goes boom was nothing compared to the grownups’ faces when they got the chance to hold genuine military assault rifles — especially the grownups who had made sure to wear Trump merch during the Army’s birthday party. (Some even handed the rifles to their children for their own photo ops.) It seemed that not even a free Army-branded Bluetooth speaker could compare to how fucking sick the modded AR-15 was. Attendees were in raptures over the Boston Dynamics robot dog gun, the quadcopter drone gun, or really any of the other guns available (except for those historic guns, those were only maybe cool).
However many protesters made it out to DC, they were dwarfed by thousands of people winding down Constitution Avenue to enter the parade viewing grounds: lots of MAGA heads, lots of foreign tourists, all people who really just like to see big, big tanks. “Angry LOSERS!” they jeered at the protesters. (“Don’t worry about them,” said one cop, “they lost anyways.”) and after walking past them, crossing the bridge, winding through hundreds of yards of metal fencing, Funneling through security, crossing a choked pedestrian bridge over Constitution Ave, I was finally dumped onto the parade viewing section: slightly muggy and surprisingly navigable. But whatever sluggishness the crowd was feeling, it would immediately dissipate the moment a tank turned the corner — and the music started blasting.
Americans have a critical weakness for 70s and 80s rock, and this crowd seemed more than willing to look past the questionable origins of the parade so long as the soundtrack had a sick guitar solo. An M1 Abrams tank driving past you while Barracuda blasts on a tower of speakers? Badass. Black Hawk helicopters circling the Washington Monument and disappearing behind the African-American history museum, thrashing your head to “separate ways” by Journey? Fucking badass. ANOTHER M1 ABRAMS TANK?!?!! AND TO FORTUNATE SON??!?!? “They got me fucking hooked,” a young redheaded man said behind me as the crowd screamed for the waving drivers. (The tank was so badass that the irony of “Fortunate Son” didn’t matter.)
When you listen to the hardest fucking rock soundtrack long enough, and learn more about how fucking sick the Bradley Fighting Vehicles streaming by you are (either from the parade announcer or the tank enthusiast next to you), an animalistic hype takes over you — enough to drown out all the nationwide anger about the parade, the enormity of Trump’s power grab, the fact that two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers were shot in their homes just that morning, the riot police roving the streets of LA.
It helped that it didn’t rain. It helped that the only people at the parade were the diehards who didn’t care if they were rained out. And by the end of the parade, they didn’t even bother to stay for Trump’s speech, beelining back to the bridge at the first drop of rain.
The only thing that mattered to this crowd inside the security perimeter — more than the Army’s honor and history, and barely more than Trump himself — was firepower, strength, hard rock, and America’s unparalleled, world-class ability to kill.
Valve now says that the delayed Steam Machine PC and Steam Frame VR headset are set to launch sometime this summer. In a Thursday blog post detailing its Verified programs for both pieces of hardware, Valve concludes by saying that “We’re excited for players to try your titles on the new Steam hardware once they launch this summer.”
When the company originally announced the Machine and Frame alongside its new Steam Controller late last year, it said that it would start shipping the new gadgets in early 2026. But in February, the company announced that the ongoing memory and storage crunch had forced it to revisit its pricing and shipping plans. And in March, Valve said in a blog post that it would be “shipping all three products this year” — though that was after the company initially said in the post that “we hope to ship in 2026,” which it removed in an update.
Valve opted to release the Steam Controller on its own, putting it up for sale in early May. For the Machine and Frame, while “summer” isn’t exactly a specific date, it narrows the window for when the products might finally come out.
Ahead of actually launching the devices, Valve is redesigning the Steam store and sharing information about the Verified programs for the hardware so that developers can prepare their games. Like with the Steam Deck, if a game is verified for the Machine or the Frame, the badge signals that the game should work well without any tweaks from the user.
For the Machine, the requirements for a game to be verified are “nearly identical” to what they are for the Steam Deck. With the Machine being “roughly six times as powerful” as the Deck, in theory, many more games will be verified for it. Valve also says that it’s testing “every title on Machine that fell below our performance requirements on Deck.”
For the Frame, Valve’s verified badge will signify games that run well while being played natively on the headset — as opposed to games that work well streamed to the headset, which the Frame is also capable of. “Like Steam Deck Verified, the Steam Frame Standalone Verified program focuses on the experience customers will have with the device out-of-the-box in standalone mode,” Valve says.
Now, we just need Valve to share exactly when the Steam Machine and Steam Frame will be released and how much they might cost. After last week’s price hikes for the Steam Deck, I’m gearing up for sticker shock.
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Humanoid robots just got another real job. This time, they are clocking in behind the scenes at a major retail operation. Figure AI has signed a commercial agreement with Catalyst Brands. That is the company behind JCPenney, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica.
The first rollout begins at Catalyst’s Reno, Nevada Distribution Logistics Center. So, no, these robots are not greeting shoppers or folding jeans in the store aisle. At least not yet.
For now, they are heading into warehouse and supply chain work. Still, the announcement has some people worried. Many see humanoid robots entering a workplace and immediately wonder what happens to human jobs. That concern is fair.
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THE AI-POWERED ROBOT ARMY THAT PACKS YOUR GROCERIES IN MINUTES
Figure’s humanoid robots are starting behind the scenes in Catalyst Brands’ Reno warehouse, not on the store floor. (Figure AI)
Figure’s humanoid robots enter warehouse work
Catalyst Brands says Figure’s humanoid robots will help with supply chain work. The companies say the robots will focus on repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing tasks. In other words, this starts with warehouse work that can wear people down over time. The robots will first assist with Catalyst’s Joey Pouch sorting system in Reno. That system helps with computerized induction, sorting and packing inside the facility. Catalyst says the Reno site also underwent a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024.
“As we invest in and scale our portfolio, this collaboration with Figure shows how emerging technologies can modernize our operations while strengthening our workforce,” said Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands. “When we automate routine tasks, our associates can focus on higher-value work and better serve our customers across all our brands.”
So, this is happening behind the scenes in the warehouse, not on the store floor. That detail is important, especially because some online reactions made it sound like robots were already headed into retail stores. The announcement points to warehouse operations first. Still, warehouse jobs are real jobs. That is why this deal is getting so much attention.
Why the Figure AI and Catalyst Brands deal stands out
Catalyst Brands owns several major retail brands and operates a large retail network. Figure AI also describes this as a step toward deploying humanoid robots at scale, even though it has not said how many robots will be used.
There is also a financial connection behind the scenes. Brookfield is an investor in Figure AI and also has a stake in Catalyst Brands. Figure says this is the first commercial bridge between Figure and a Brookfield portfolio company.
If the robots perform well in Reno, the companies could look for more ways to use them across the business.
AI LAYOFFS MAY BE BACKFIRING ON COMPANIES
The robots will first assist with repetitive sorting and packing work inside Catalyst’s updated distribution center. (Figure AI)
What Figure AI has not revealed yet
The announcement leaves out several key details. We do not know how many robots Figure AI will deploy. We do not know the exact start date. We also do not know whether Catalyst is buying the robots, leasing them or using a robots-as-a-service model. The companies have also not said how many human roles could change because of the rollout.
Figure AI says the robots are being integrated into Catalyst’s distribution facility and will focus on physically demanding work. However, the release does not spell out the exact jobs the robots will handle day to day.
That missing information gives people room to worry. It also gives people room to guess. And online, people did both. Some thought humanoid robots were coming straight into stores. Others focused on the bigger fear, which is that robots could take over jobs that people depend on.
Why humanoid robots make workers nervous
The fear around this deal goes beyond one company. Workers have already watched companies use AI to cut costs, slow hiring and reorganize teams. Now, physical robots are entering spaces where people lift, sort, pack and move products. That feels different.
Figure AI and Catalyst say the robots can handle routine tasks and help associates shift toward higher-value work. That sounds promising. However, workers may hear a very different message. They may wonder who gets retrained. They may also wonder who gets replaced. Companies cannot brush off those concerns. If humanoid robots are coming into more workplaces, workers deserve clear answers.
JOBS THAT ARE MOST AT RISK FROM AI, ACCORDING TO MICROSOFT
The big question is whether humanoid robots will help workers handle tough warehouse tasks or eventually replace some of those jobs. (Figure AI)
Why retail companies want warehouse robots
Warehouse work can be tough on the body. People lift boxes, move products, repeat the same motions and race to keep up when orders spike. That is why retail companies are looking hard at automation.
Figure’s pitch is that humanoid robots can fit into places already built for people. They do not need a warehouse rebuilt from scratch. In theory, they can step into certain jobs and help with repetitive work.
For a retailer, that could mean products move faster, and workers face less physical strain. It could also help during busy shopping seasons, when distribution centers get slammed.
What to watch next with Figure AI robots
The next big signal will be whether Catalyst expands the robot program beyond Reno. A small rollout may be a learning test. A wider deployment would point to a much larger shift in how retailers move products.
Watch for details on robot count, job duties and worker impact. Those specifics will tell us more than anything else. Also, pay attention to how companies talk about employees. If they say robots will help workers move into better roles, they should explain exactly how that will happen. Workers deserve more than buzzwords.
What this means for you
These robots may start in a warehouse, but the ripple effect could eventually reach workers, shoppers and prices.
For shoppers, the upside is easy to see. If robots help move products faster, stores may have fewer empty shelves. Online orders could also move through warehouses more quickly.
For workers, it gets more complicated. Companies often say robots will take over the hardest tasks so people can move into better roles. That sounds good, but workers need more than a promise. They need training. They need clear answers. They also need to know whether a robot is there to help them or replace them.
And for the rest of us, this raises a bigger question. Are we comfortable with retailers using humanoid robots if it makes shopping faster or cheaper? Or do we want companies to prove that people are still part of the plan?
Kurt’s key takeaways
Figure AI’s deal with Catalyst Brands shows how quickly humanoid robots are entering our workplaces. For now, these robots are starting in a distribution center. They are not walking through the aisles at JCPenney. That distinction is important. Still, the bigger concern remains. People want to know whether these machines will help workers or slowly push them aside. Automation can reduce hard physical work. It can also create real fear when companies avoid direct answers. Humanoid robots may soon become a normal part of warehouse operations for retailers. The real test will be whether companies use them in a way that helps people, instead of treating people like a cost to cut.
Would you shop with a retailer that uses humanoid robots in its warehouses, or would that make you think twice? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Tan and countless other DIYers are attracting millions of views showing off the personal computers they’ve built inside purses, jewelry boxes, toys, and old tech, hiding Raspberry Pi boards inside art projects.
Cyberdecks, but make it fashion
The colorful, quirky builds popping up across social media are a drastic shift away from the typical look the cyberdecks we’ve featured have had, which often consisted of a 3D-printed chassis or a rugged box like a Pelican case, usually with a cyberpunk-style design.
Inside, these homemade devices are essentially mini Linux computers for specific tasks, usually done offline, like reading, journaling, or listening to music. But now, a cyberdeck doesn’t have to look like a computer at all.
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