Introducing UMA
A new robotics intelligence company, UMA (Universal Mechanical Assistant), has launched with a mission to integrate advanced AI into the physical world. Founded by former leaders from Tesla, Google DeepMind, Nvidia, and Hugging Face, UMA aims to develop humanoid robots capable of performing real‑world tasks in various environments.
Why Physical AI Matters
The founders of UMA have been at the forefront of breakthroughs in deep learning, robotics, and open‑source AI. They believe that the next era of artificial intelligence will not be confined to screens but will be realized in warehouses, hospitals, labs, factories, and homes, where machines must navigate friction, unpredictability, and human complexity.
Market Outlook
The humanoid and mobile robotics market is projected to reach $243 billion by 2035 and exceed $5 trillion by 2050. This growth is driven by structural labor shortages, rising operational costs, and the need for resilient, always‑on production. UMA’s founders are convinced that this shift requires a new kind of robotic intelligence: data‑driven, adaptable, self‑improving, and safe enough to work alongside human teams.
Founding Team
UMA’s founding team brings decades of experience from across the US, Europe, and Asia:
- Remi Cadene – pioneered Tesla Autopilot and Optimus; democratized robot learning with LeRobot at Hugging Face.
- Pierre Sermanet – advanced deep learning and robotics research at NYU and Google DeepMind.
- Simon Alibert – co‑founder of LeRobot; expert in scalable learning infrastructure.
- Robert Knight – 25 + years designing humanoid robots; open‑sourced the widely used SO‑100 robot.
Two Complementary Systems
The company is developing two complementary systems designed for real‑world use. These systems aim to provide a pragmatic path toward high‑reliability robotics deployment, balancing innovation with the operational needs of industry.
Design Philosophy
UMA’s approach is grounded in durability, safety, and real‑world performance. The company builds systems that are lightweight, repairable, and committed to full civilian use. UMA believes robotics should enhance human capability, bringing more safety, time, and new possibilities to people.
Join the Team
UMA is now hiring engineers, researchers, and operational specialists from around the world who want to push the boundaries of physical intelligence. The company values high standards and believes that world‑class innovation thrives on diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
Investors & Backers
UMA is supported by global investors such as Greycroft, Relentless, Unity Growth, >Commit, Factorial, ALM Ventures, and Drysdale, along with leading figures in AI including Olivier Pomel, Yann LeCun, Thomas Wolf, Soumith Chintala, and Nicolas Rosberg.
