AI brains for blue-collar robots spark a new automation wave

AI startups are racing to build adaptable “brains” that let robots understand physics and real-world conditions, enabling them to tackle blue-collar tasks from plumbing to roofing. Big fundraising and new world-model approaches fuel this shift, with players like Waabi, Skild AI, and FieldAI pushing robotics from the factory floor to fieldwork. Analysts disagree on how quickly or how many jobs will be affected, but the consensus is that autonomous, physically capable AI is becoming the next big technology frontier.