Startup linked to Trump wants humanoid robots in military operations

THE Foundation Future Industriesa robotics company with ties to the family of United States President Donald Trump, is developing autonomous humanoid robots of “dual use”, designed for both heavy industrial environments and military applications.

Although the proposal resembles typical science fiction scenarios, initial versions of the equipment are already being tested in Ukraine, with a view to possible use in the war waged by the country against Russia.

According to the company’s CEO, Sankaet Pathakthe Foundation’s core mission is direct humanoid robotics for challenges considered more relevant than domestic chores or customer service roles.

“I am convinced that technology is reaching a level where it can replace jobs that are dangerous for humans to do, and if you can do that, that’s the biggest net benefit you can create among all the applications of robotics,” Pathak told CNBC.

Humanoid robots will have more responsibilities

Although the Foundation operates in an increasingly competitive market for humanoid robots, its explicit defense of the military use of the technology sets it apart from many competitors.

The startup set goals ambitious. Pathak intends to expand production to thousands of units later this year and begin testing in front-line operations with the United States Armed Forces in the next 12 to 18 months.

The company’s plans and its growing rapprochement with Washington reflect a broader trend of incorporating artificial intelligence and robotics into modern warfare, transforming these technologies into national security issues.

Pathak previously became known for commanding the Synapsea financial technology platform that entered the process of bankruptcy in 2024 and generated controversy. Shortly afterwards, he founded the Foundation alongside Arjun Sethiformer president of Tribe Capitaland Mike LeBlancco-founder of Cobalt Robotics.

The new company also faced questions after suggesting that it maintained close relationships with General Motors (GM) and could receive investments of the automaker. Subsequently, GM rejected these allegations.

The Foundation gained greater international recognition earlier this year by sending two units of the robot Phantom MK-1 to Ukraine in a pilot demonstration. According to the company, this was the first known shipment of humanoid robots for a combat scenario.

The tests, supported by the United States government and conducted in cooperation with Ukrainian authorities, focused on logistical activities in areas considered dangerous.

Ukraine as a laboratory

• Ukraine was chosen as the technology’s debut location as it has already become an important testing ground for artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics applications in combat;
• During the five years of war against Russia, the country began to use ground robots to transportation of supplies to the frontline, as well as autonomous drones and AI-enhanced systems for reconnaissance and precision strikes;
• According to Pathak, tests carried out with the Phantom MK-1 have already demonstrated the robot’s ability to collect supplies, an activity that often exposes soldiers to risks;
• Despite this, current models are far from resembling super soldiers. The MK-1 can only carry about 20 kilos load, does not have adequate protection against water and has battery limitations that prevent large-scale deployment.

The company intends to send to Ukraine, later this year, a new generation of the platform, called Phantom 2. According to Pathak, the equipment will feature “superhuman abilities” and will have the double of the Phantom 1’s payload capacity.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine refused to comment on the matter, while the United States Department of Defense didn’t respond to the questions of CNBC.

The Foundation states that the tests in Ukraine will serve as a basis for future operations with the US Armed Forces.

The company has already received government research contracts totaling US$24 million (R$120.9 million) for feasibility studies involving inspection, logistics and weapons handling for the United States Army, Navy and Air Force.

According to Pathak, conversations with government authorities evolved from the research phase to discussions about expanding the use of robots. The executive intends for the company’s technology to be used by the US military — including in combat zones, if necessary — within a period of 12 to 18 months.

Eric Trump’s participation in the robot company generates criticism

One of the elements that attracted the most attention around the startup was the entry of Eric Trumpsecond son of United States President Donald Trump, as the company’s main strategy advisor.

Eric Trump’s participation provoked criticism from the Democratic senator Elizabeth Warrenwhich classified the company’s government contracts as a case of “corruption in plain sight”.

In response, a Foundation spokesperson told CNBC that Eric Trump was already an investor in the company before taking on the role of advisor and that both parties share the vision of strengthen manufacturing in the United States.

The company has also emphasized its alignment with Washington’s strategic interests, presenting its technology as part of the geopolitical dispute between the United States and China. “The goal is to deliver the best robots we can build to the United States Military — better than anything China has,” declared Pathak.

Technological race between USA and China

Although several American companies work with the United States government to develop autonomous robots for military use, the Pentagon not yet announced the operational employment of humanoid robots in its forces.

China, in turn, is home to several of the main companies in the sector and has been financing initiatives aimed at developing technology, mainly for applications industrial and economic. Chinese military researchers have already published studies on the potential of humanoid robots for military purposes, but the scale of the tests carried out by the country remains uncertain.

The Chinese Armed Forces have already displayed initial versions of robotic dogs equipped with AI for combat and also humanoid soldiers controlled by movements.

Debate on the usefulness and ethics of robots

Defenders of the technology argue that humanoid robots have advantages over other forms of automation because they are more suitable for moving in environments originally designed for people, such as construction sites, logistics centers and urban combat zones.

Kateryna Bondara senior researcher at the Wadhwani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said humanoids could offer specific benefits on the battlefield due to their autonomy and to human-like dexterity.

“Modern urban combat spaces — where there are staircases, ladders, basements and narrow corridors — were created for human movement, which could give humanoid systems an advantage over tracked or quadruped robots in certain scenarios,” he said.

Despite this, doubts remain about the complexity and costs involved in manufacturing these systems compared to other alternatives.

The advancement of humanoid robots for military applications also raises concerns ethicsespecially in relation to autonomous decision making in situations where human lives are at stake.

Pathak said most armed uses of Phantom robots will continue to require some form of human confirmation in the decision-making process. However, he recognized that the equipment will need make fully autonomous decisions in certain critical situations, in which the time factor is decisive.

Experts question feasibility

The United States military have already demonstrated willingness to utilize AI models, which would have been employed to aid attacks and decision-making processes in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Still, experts point out that the main challenge for companies like Foundation will be to demonstrate that humanoid robots can be more practical and economical than other technologies already available.

“Making robots look human is a complex and expensive engineering challengeand what Ukraine taught us is exactly what opposite: we need of our ability to adapt quickly and manufacture in a fast and cheap”, he stated Melanie Sissonsenior fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution.

Despite disagreements about the ideal format of these machines, experts agree that the growing presence of robots with artificial intelligence in armed conflicts seems inevitable. “I hope ground, air and underwater robots replace human forces”, he stated Toby Walshchief scientist at the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of New South Wales.

At the same time, he pondered that it might just be a “science fiction trope” imagine the arrival of humanoid robots similar to the terminators portrayed in works of fiction.