July 11 - Intel (INTC, Financial) is carving out its AI‑powered robotics and biometric arm, RealSense, into a standalone company, according to a recent announcement.
The new entity secured $50 million in Series A funding led by MediaTek Innovation Fund and Intel Capital, marking a strategic shift toward external capital for growth.
RealSense develops 3D vision and automation tools for robotics applications. CEO Nadav Orbach, formerly Intel's VP of incubation and disruptive innovation, said the fresh capital will fuel new product lines and meet rising demand from manufacturers worldwide.
Automakers and technology firms such as Tesla (TSLA, Financial) and Amazon (AMZN, Financial) have vastly increased their investments in robotics. RealSense's spin‑out aims to capitalize on this trend by providing collision avoidance cameras and perception software to a variety of sectors. The company employs about 130 people across the U.S., Israel and China and counts Eyesynth and Unitree Robotics among its customers.
INTC shares edged down about 1% in early trading on Friday.