US Startup Develops AI Humanoid Robot Phantom MK-1, Deployed for Testing in Russia-Ukraine War

Recently, the AI humanoid robot Phantom MK-1 developed by San Francisco-based startup Foundation has drawn attention. Standing 180 cm tall and weighing 80 kg, it can carry 20 kg of equipment, autonomously evaluate battlefield environments and make decisions like determining movement directions.

The robot has been sent to the Russia-Ukraine battlefield for frontline reconnaissance support, and Foundation has signed a $24 million research contract with the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force. However, experts express concerns about the risk of automated systems escaping human control, pointing out that lack of transparency between conflicting parties will exacerbate worries.

Foundation aims to produce 50,000 of these robots by the end of 2027, deploy dozens this year, and adopt a rental model with an annual cost of approximately $100,000 per unit.