Meta has purchased Assured Robot Intelligence, a startup focused on robotics artificial intelligence. The company's employees will join Meta's Superintelligence Labs, the division responsible for advanced AI research. The deal signals Meta's growing interest in embodied AI systems that can interact with the physical world.

Assured Robot Intelligence had been developing AI software for robotic systems, including perception and control algorithms. The startup's technology is designed to enable robots to operate autonomously in unstructured environments. Meta plans to integrate this expertise into its broader AI research efforts.

The acquisition comes as Meta increases its investment in robotics and AI hardware. The company has been exploring the development of humanoid robots that could perform tasks in warehouses or homes. Meta's Superintelligence Labs, led by Yann LeCun, focuses on long-term AI research goals.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Assured Robot Intelligence had raised venture funding from investors including Sequoia Capital. The startup was founded by researchers from MIT and Stanford with backgrounds in robotics and machine learning.

Meta has been expanding its AI capabilities through acquisitions and internal development. The company recently launched a new AI model for robotics and has been hiring researchers in the field. The acquisition of Assured Robot Intelligence adds specialized talent to Meta's robotics team.

The push into humanoid machines aligns with Meta's vision for the metaverse, where virtual and physical realities converge. The company believes that advanced AI and robotics will be essential for creating immersive experiences. Meta has also been developing haptic gloves and other hardware for virtual interaction.

Industry analysts note that Meta faces competition from companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics in the humanoid robotics space. Tesla has been developing its Optimus robot, while Boston Dynamics has commercialized its Spot and Atlas robots. Meta's acquisition strategy aims to accelerate its progress in this competitive field.

Assured Robot Intelligence's staff will begin working at Meta's offices in Menlo Park, California, and New York. The integration process is expected to be completed within the next few months. Meta has not announced any specific products or timelines related to its humanoid robot efforts.

A team of researchers has introduced a novel technique that allows silicon transistors to be placed on top of one another. This vertical stacking approach marks a shift from traditional planar chip designs. The method could lead to significant improvements in chip performance and energy efficiency.

The new process involves growing layers of silicon directly on top of existing transistor layers. This eliminates the need for large horizontal footprints that limit current chip density. By building upward instead of outward, manufacturers can pack more transistors into the same area.

Vertical stacking addresses a key challenge facing the semiconductor industry: the slowdown of Moore's Law. For decades, transistor counts doubled roughly every two years through miniaturization. As physical limits approach, alternative architectures like 3D stacking offer a path forward.

The researchers demonstrated that vertically stacked transistors maintain electrical performance comparable to conventional planar transistors. This suggests the technique is viable for commercial production. The team also noted that the method is compatible with existing fabrication processes.

Potential applications include high-performance computing, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory devices. Stacked chips could reduce data transfer distances between components, improving speed and reducing power consumption. This is particularly valuable for data-intensive workloads.

The study was conducted by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and published in the journal Nature. The research was funded by the Semiconductor Research Corporation and the National Science Foundation.

Commercial adoption of vertical transistor stacking is still several years away. The researchers are working with industry partners to refine the process for mass production. Challenges include managing heat dissipation in densely packed 3D structures.

"This work demonstrates a practical path to continue scaling beyond traditional limits," said Dr. Kaustav Banerjee, a professor at UCSB and co-author of the study. "We are excited to see how this technology evolves in the coming years."

A San Francisco robotics startup is facing a lawsuit from an Airbnb host who alleges the company's robotic prototype testing caused extensive damage to his property. The complaint was filed on May 26, 2026, by Sean Donovan, who is seeking over $12,000 in damages from The Bot Company, a Bay Area startup. The case was first reported by SFGate, which also interviewed Donovan about the unusual mess he discovered after the startup's employees rented his former childhood home through Airbnb.

Donovan first suspected something was amiss when he was handling trash during the guests' stay. He told SFGate about finding "bundles of wires" scattered throughout the house and a robot that he described as a 6-foot-tall "Roomba with treads," which he likened to the cybernetic Borg from Star Trek. The robot, according to Donovan, appeared to be a prototype being tested by the startup's employees.

The lawsuit alleges that the testing activities caused significant damage to the property, including marks on walls and floors, as well as potential structural issues. Donovan claims that the startup's employees did not disclose their intention to use the home for robot testing when booking the Airbnb. The Bot Company has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.

This incident raises questions about the responsibilities of companies using short-term rentals for unconventional purposes. Airbnb's terms of service generally prohibit commercial activities without prior approval, and hosts can seek damages for violations. The case could set a precedent for how such disputes are handled in the future.

The Bot Company, which focuses on developing autonomous robots for household tasks, has not commented on the lawsuit. The company's website describes its mission to create robots that can navigate complex indoor environments. It remains unclear whether the prototype involved in the incident was part of a commercial product or an experimental model.

Donovan is seeking compensation for repairs, cleaning, and loss of rental income. The lawsuit also requests that the startup cover legal fees. The case is currently pending in San Francisco Superior Court, with no trial date set yet.

As of now, The Bot Company has not filed a response to the lawsuit. The outcome of this case may influence how robotics startups approach testing in real-world environments, particularly when using shared accommodations.

Apple Music could be preparing to introduce a free, ad-supported subscription tier, according to code discovered in the app's beta version. The finding suggests the company is exploring a model similar to Spotify's free offering, which includes advertisements between songs.

The code snippets, spotted by developers analyzing the beta build, reference terms like "ad-supported" and "free tier." While the feature is not yet active, its presence in the code indicates Apple is actively working on the option. The company has not officially announced any plans to launch a free version of its music streaming service.

Currently, Apple Music offers a three-month free trial for new users, after which a paid subscription is required. The service costs $10.99 per month for individuals, $16.99 for families, and $5.99 for students. A free, ad-supported tier would mark a significant shift in Apple's strategy, which has historically focused on paid subscriptions.

Spotify, Apple Music's main competitor, has long offered a free tier with ads, which has helped it amass a larger user base. Spotify's free version includes limitations such as shuffle-only playback on mobile and the inability to skip tracks freely. Apple's potential free tier could follow a similar model to attract price-sensitive users.

The code discovery comes as Apple Music continues to grow its subscriber base, though it still trails Spotify globally. Introducing a free tier could help Apple compete more aggressively in markets where paid subscriptions are less common. However, it remains unclear when or if Apple will roll out the feature.

Apple has not commented on the code findings. The beta version is typically used for testing new features before a public release. If Apple proceeds with the ad-supported tier, it would need to balance user experience with revenue from advertising.

The move could also impact Apple's relationships with record labels, as free tiers often involve different licensing agreements. Apple would need to negotiate terms that allow ad-supported streaming while ensuring fair compensation for artists.

For now, the code remains a hint of what might come. Apple Music users will have to wait for an official announcement to know if a free tier becomes a reality. The company's next major software updates are expected in the fall, which could bring new features to Apple Music.