The HOBT: 🧠AI Brain | 🚗EV Test| 🌞New Solar

Hey 👋🏼 Skild AI, a robotics startup backed by Amazon and SoftBank, just unveiled Skild Brain, a powerful AI model designed to give robots human-like skills across industries. Co-founders Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta built it to overcome robotics’ biggest hurdle: the lack of data. By training on simulations and real-world robot feedback, Skild Brain helps machines walk stairs, stay balanced, and handle clutter like pros. With partners like LG CNS and $300M in funding from names like Bezos, Sequoia, and Lightspeed, Skild is quietly building a “shared brain” that may redefine how robots learn and evolve in the wild.

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WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?

Huge Chinese self-driving test puts 26 cars, including Teslas, through 234 simulations to see how they fare

🚗🧠 A massive self-driving showdown in China just put 26 cars through 234 brutal real-world challenges, thanks to Dongchedi. From chaotic roundabouts to unsignaled intersections, vehicles faced child mannequins, scooters, blind spots, and more. The result? Mayhem. Some cars looped aimlessly, others plowed into mannequins, and even top scorers like Tesla’s Model X needed human backup. While a few like Luxeed R7 and Avatr 12 held their own, the big takeaway is clear: true autonomy isn’t here yet. Dongchedi’s gritty test exposes how far we still are from cars that can actually drive themselves.

☀️🔋 A team of researchers in Mexico may have found a better way to power solar panels. They tested over 1,600 setups using a new material called chalcogenide perovskites, which could work better than the lead-based ones used today, and without the harmful side effects. Their study shows this material could help make solar energy more stable, safer, and more efficient. As more people switch to solar, this kind of progress could lead to lower costs and cleaner energy for everyone.

🚀💳 Klarna just unlocked a major milestone in the UK, securing an e-money licence from the FCA that clears the path for savings accounts and a debit card for its 11M users. Abby Vickers calls it the “next big step” as the fintech shifts beyond buy now, pay later amid tightening regulations and rising competition from Zilch and Clearpay. While Klarna’s IPO ambitions were stalled by US-China trade tensions, a comeback might be on the cards. Still, with Q1 losses hitting $99M and credit defaults rising, the pressure is on to turn the tide.

MORE NEWS

🌱💸 Vertical Future, once valued at £100m and a leader in vertical farming, now faces a critical crossroads after losses topped £10m in 2024 and turnover dropped sharply. Founded in 2016, the company pioneered its own hardware and software for urban farming but struggled amid a tough market where rivals like Aerofarms and Infarm faltered. CEO Jamie Burrows remains optimistic about upcoming projects, yet the firm has engaged advisors to explore a potential sale to survive and scale. The next move could reshape its future in a sector grappling with fierce competition and funding challenges.

🚀📈 Airwallex is charging ahead in the UK, doubling its London office space and rapidly growing its team after a massive 109% surge in UK revenue to over £37m. With global revenue hitting $850m and partnerships with big names like Arsenal and McLaren Racing, the fintech is tapping into strong demand for smarter payment solutions. Valued at $6.2bn, Airwallex aims to be IPO-ready by 2026, though founder Jack Zhang sees the US market as a more attractive listing venue. Meanwhile, UK policymakers are pushing to boost fintech growth and listings.

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