Foundation builds humanoid robots for US defense, raising alarm

Foundation Future Industries, a San Francisco start-up valued at more than $1 billion, is developing humanoid robots for U.S. military tasks, drawing condemnation from human rights groups and the United Nations.

The company, founded in 2024, has secured about $24 million in defense contracts to test its Phantom robots across most military branches and is in discussions with the Department of Homeland Security to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.

Company executives plan to arm the robots if the military requests it, a prospect that has stirred alarm. The Catholic Church and many robotics companies oppose autonomous weapons, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has urged a ban on “killer robots.”

Co-founder Sankaet Pathak argues that humanoid robots could make warfare more precise, reduce civilian casualties, and save soldiers’ lives. He warns that China and Russia are pursuing similar technologies.

Verity Coyle, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division, cautioned that a “move fast and break things” approach risks catastrophic effects without legal safeguards.

Phantom stands six feet tall, carries nearly 90 pounds, and uses AI and 360-degree cameras. In 2025, the robots helped produce more than 24,000 cars, according to Reuters.

Eric Trump has invested in Foundation and serves as an adviser, though the company and the White House deny any preferential treatment. In 2026, Foundation sought up to $500 million in new funding at a valuation around $3 billion.

Experts say autonomous weapons could lower the political cost of war and increase error risks. Pathak envisions robot-built cities and a post-work society, but critics fear an arms race that endangers civilians.