When Robots Have Their ChatGPT Moment, Remember These Pincers
Eka, a robotics startup in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has developed a robot with advanced dexterity that can perform delicate tasks like screwing in a light bulb, a feat rarely seen in existing robots. The robot's fluid, adaptive movements resemble the breakthrough moment of ChatGPT, suggesting a leap forward in physical-world automation. Co-founders Pulkit Agrawal and Tuomas Haarnoja believe their approach could scale to revolutionize robotics across industries.
- ▪Eka’s robot can grasp and manipulate diverse objects, including light bulbs, keys, and hairbrushes, with remarkable precision and adaptability.
- ▪The company’s founders, Pulkit Agrawal and Tuomas Haarnoja, see robot dexterity as a foundational challenge with vast economic implications.
- ▪Eka’s approach builds on AI training methods like reinforcement learning, similar to OpenAI’s earlier Dactyl project with a robotic hand solving a Rubik’s Cube.
- ▪The robot’s ability to adjust in real time to slipping or moving objects demonstrates a significant advancement over traditional rigid robotic systems.
- ▪Agrawal claims that 'trillions of dollars flow through the human hand,' framing dexterity as one of the most important technological frontiers.
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| Original publisher | WIRED |
| Canonical URL | https://www.wired.com/story/when-robots-have-their-chatgpt-moment-remember-these-pincers/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-04-29T10:06:15.560Z |
| Last seen | 2026-04-29T10:06:15.560Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Will KnightThe Big StoryApr 29, 2026 6:00 AMI've Covered Robots for Years. This One Is DifferentFrom sorting chicken nuggets to screwing in lightbulbs, Eka’s robotic claw feels like we're approaching a ChatGPT moment for the physical world.Photograph: Tony LuongCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyA robot’s claw hurtles toward a light bulb on a table. I wince, waiting for the crunch. But suddenly the claw decelerates. It starts gingerly pawing around the table, as if searching for its glasses on the nightstand. It gently positions the bulb between its two pincers. The bulb rolls away. The claw goes chasing it across the table. After a few nips, the bulb is back in its grasp.
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