Industrial Next unveils AI robots that can be reprogrammed in minutes

Industrial Next, a San Francisco-based startup, presented AI-powered robotic stations at one outlet Disrupt 2026, highlighting their ability to be reconfigured for new tasks in minutes instead of weeks. The robots rely on proprietary foundation models that integrate visual perception, task context and motion control, and are trained in a detailed simulated environment that mirrors real-world physics. The company announced a partnership with BMW Group Technology Office to assess the technology for complex automotive assembly.

Founders Lukas Pankau and Allen Pan, who previously worked at Tesla, created the firm after experiencing the limitations of legacy factory equipment. They noted that traditional robots require extensive programming and retooling, forcing manufacturers to simplify products. By using simulation and demonstration, Industrial Next’s stations can perform delicate operations such as threading flex cables and removing protective film on smartphones with human-level speed and accuracy. The startup aims to eventually enable fully automated car production without human intervention.