“We now have experts able to go virtually anywhere at a moment’s notice to walk an engineer through a factory where there’s a problem to be solved.”
– Barbara Humpton, president and CEO of Siemens USA
This is a published version of the AMT Tech Report newsletter. You can sign up to get the Tech Report in your inbox here.
1. The Actual Droids You’re Looking For
Besh and Grek, two Star Wars-inspired droids created by Disney Imagineering, stole the spotlight at Nvidia’s GTC artificial intelligence conference. The droids wowed audiences with lifelike movements and emotions thanks to Nvidia’s new Newton physics engine and reinforcement learning. While autonomous, human operators still guide their actions for controlled interaction.
2. Up to Speed(s and Feeds) in CAD/CAM
This wonderfully curated collection of articles covers CAD/CAM advancements, from AI-driven automation and digital twins to optimized tool paths and system requirements. Learn how innovations like generative design, AI-assisted programming, and software-tooling partnerships boost machining efficiency, flexibility, and quality in CNC and metalworking industries.
3. One (hu)Man(oid), One Engine
While that slogan is technically AMG’s, any real enthusiast will tell you it’s not entirely true anymore. But I digress. Mercedes-Benz is transforming its Berlin factory into a test bed for AI, humanoid robots, and advanced production. The site enhances efficiency by using its MO360 digital platform with AI chatbots and anomaly detection – plus, they’re testing out Apptronik's humanoid robots. The factory will also set new industry standards when it begins producing high-performance axial-flux motors in 2026.
4. It Is a Tool. Learn How To Use the Tool.
I think that having mixed feelings about AI is not only fair but should be the norm. I stand behind my past comments that “nobody ever lost their job to a wrench, but people have lost their jobs to another person who is better at wrenching.” On the flip side, I also agree with what my teachers said about calculators. Today I am happy that I am never without a calculator – but only because I also have some idea of how they – and math – work. This paragraph has been generated entirely by organic matter.
5. Unfold, Deploy, Print
Tell me this thing doesn’t have the same vibe as the deployable “laptop gun” from the Nintendo 64 game Perfect Dark. Anycubic’s foldable, portable 3D printer folds to just 75 mm but has a printing height of up to 460 mm. It features five rotational axes, a touchscreen interface, active cooling, organized filament storage, and multiple connectivity ports. Sleek and compact, it won the 2025 iF Design Award. Its launch date has yet to be announced.
To get the latest tech developments delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to the weekly Tech Report here.
To hear the latest in additive manufacturing, material removal, automation, and digital manufacturing, subscribe to the AMT Tech Trends podcast here.
