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Robots are now performing real surgeries, earning paediatric approvals, and attracting serious funding, which is your cue to realize that AI is no longer a pilot project and your future meetings may include words like certification, compliance, and why this showed up so fast. At the same time, AI is slipping onto faces as learning glasses that summarize, translate, and teach on the move, which means upskilling might soon happen during your commute while your coffee cools and your calendar pretends you are still busy. And just when that sinks in, robots are being sold in retail stores like consumer gadgets, which is a polite warning that clients, bosses, or teams may soon ask if this can be bought, deployed, or explained by Monday morning.

Here's what's making headlines in the world of AI and innovation today.

In today’s AI Pulse

• 🎙️ Coactive – Media leaders on AI-powered content workflows.

• ⚡ The Rundown AI – Daily AI updates in five minutes.

• 🎓 Udacity – Job-ready AI skills, learned faster.

• 🩺 Robot – Performs 3,000 Surgeries, Gains Paediatric.

• 👓 AI Learning Glasses – Bring Education Everywhere.

• 🛍️ Robot Store – Opens Selling Humanoids Directly.

• ⚡ Quick Hits – IN AI TODAY

• 🛠️ Tool to Sharpen Your Skills –🎓 AIGPE® Project Charter Specialist (Accredited) | Project Management

The coming years won’t just transform technology; they’ll reshape your home, your family life, and the control you have online.

Media Leaders on AI: Insights from Disney, ESPN, Forrester Research

The explosion of visual content is almost unbelievable, and creative, marketing, and ad teams are struggling to keep up. Content workflows are slowing down, and teams can't find the right assets quickly enough.

The crucial question is: How can you still win with the influx of content and keep pace with demand?

Find out on Jan 14, 2026, at 10am PT/1pm ET as industry leaders—including Phyllis Davidson, VP Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, and former media executive Oke Okaro as they draw on their deep media research and experience from ESPN, Disney, Reuters, and beyond.

In the webinar, "The Future of Content Workflows: How AI is Powering the Next Wave," you’ll learn:

• The forces reshaping content operations

• Where current systems are falling short

• How leading organizations are using multimodal AI to extend their platforms

• What deeper image and video understanding unlocks for monetization

Get clear insight and actionable perspective from the leaders who built and transformed top media and entertainment organizations.

Register here to get your content workflow strategy right in 2026.

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🤖🩺 Robot Performs 3,000 Surgeries, Gains Paediatric

🧠The Pulse

Beijing’s Surgerii Robotics raised US$100 million in Series D financing to scale production of its SHURUI single‑port surgical robot. The system, the first commercially available single‑incision surgical robot, has performed over 3,000 surgeries and earned CE certification for paediatric use.

📌The Download

• Innovative design: SHURUI uses a snake‑like Dual Continuum Mechanism that delivers surgical instruments through one incision, enabling minimally invasive procedures. Its wrist‑free design allows 540° rotation and high flexibility inside the body.

• Clinical adoption: The robot has performed more than 3,000 surgeries across 70 hospitals. It is approved in Europe for paediatric surgeries and is undergoing Chinese National Medical Product Administration review for adult indications.

• Funding details: The Series D round was led by Loyal Valley Capital and joined by CICC Capital, SDIC and existing investors. Funds will scale production, pursue global marketing and develop next‑generation products.

• Market impact: Surgerii claims SHURUI is the world’s only commercially available single‑port surgical robot, competing with multi‑port systems like Intuitive’s da Vinci. Success could broaden adoption of minimally invasive surgery in China and abroad.

💡What This Means for You

Medical robotics is advancing rapidly. Professionals in healthcare and beyond should track how single‑port systems could reduce recovery times and hospital stays. Investments in minimally invasive technologies may also signal job opportunities in surgical training, device maintenance and AI‑driven healthcare innovation.

👓🧠 AI Learning Glasses Bring Education Everywhere

🧠The Pulse

Chinese ed‑tech company Jinxin Technology launched NAMI INSIGHT One smart learning glasses on Dec 31. The AI‑powered wearable integrates curriculum‑aligned content, language translation, and bone‑conduction audio to deliver hands‑free learning. It’s part of Namibox’s push into AI‑native hardware and aims to redefine educational experiences.

📌The Download

• New category: NAMI INSIGHT One is billed as the first AI‑native learning device. It combines augmented‑reality hardware with education‑specific AI models to deliver structured notes, vocabulary reviews and real‑time translation. The product debuted on Dec 31 via Namibox’s flagship stores on Tmall and JD.com.

• Learning modes: Classroom Mode generates real‑time, AI‑summarized notes; Vocabulary Mode uses an anti‑forgetting algorithm to schedule reviews; Listening Mode uses bone‑conduction audio for immersive study; Translation Mode offers multilingual translation for global learners.

• Strategic shift: Jinxin is moving from digital content to “content + hardware.” With over 40 million users, the company sees wearable devices as the next step after learning apps and tablets, expanding monetization through subscriptions and hardware sales.

• Borderless learning: The glasses target everyday scenarios—classrooms, commutes and beyond. Built‑in translation and AI‑generated content aim to support cross‑border education and align with the company’s vision of “borderless learning”.

💡What This Means for You

For professionals, the debut of AI‑native learning glasses hints at wider adoption of wearable AI for training and upskilling. Expect educational tools that integrate translation, summarization and personalized practice on the go. Businesses may explore similar devices for employee learning and onboarding.

🤖🛍️ Robot Store Opens Selling Humanoids Directly

🧠The Pulse

Unitree and JD.com opened the world’s first interactive robot retail store in Beijing, giving consumers hands‑on access to GO‑series robot dogs and the G1 humanoid. Trial operations started December 30 with an official launch on December 31. Customers scan QR codes to buy robots for pick‑up or delivery.

📌The Download

• Store experience: The Beijing store lets visitors try GO‑series robot dogs (10k–20k yuan) and the G1 humanoid (80k–100k yuan). An interactive playground allows customers to interact with robots; purchases are made by scanning a QR code for pick‑up or delivery.

• Product lineup: GO2 Pro robots cost ¥19,899 and include cloud‑based software; the GO 1 price starts at ¥9,999. The G1 humanoid sells between ¥80,000 and ¥100,000 and targets research institutions and performance companies.

• Market testing: Staff said many customers are interested in humanoids for education or entertainment, but one visitor noted the technology would be more valuable assisting older people. JD Logistics and Unitree view the store as a testbed for consumer demand and supply logistics.

• Future plans: If the store succeeds, Unitree and JD may open more locations. Unitree also plans an IPO and continues to develop affordable humanoids, signalling China’s push to commercialise robotics.

💡What This Means for You

Robots are moving from research labs to retail stores. For professionals, this signals a future where service robots become consumer products. Expect clients or colleagues to inquire about robotic solutions at home or work. Understanding these capabilities could help you advise on adoption, privacy and maintenance considerations.

IN AI TODAY - QUICK HITS

⚡Quick Hits (60‑Second News Sprint)

Short, sharp updates to keep your finger on the AI pulse.

• Xi Hails China’s AI Triumphs in New Year Speech: Chinese President Xi Jinping used his New Year’s speech to laud China’s technological achievements, highlighting advances in AI, semiconductor chips, humanoid robots, drones and the Fujian aircraft carrier. He emphasized that China is among the fastest‑growing in innovation capacity and called for continued confidence despite external pressures and chip bans.

• Nvidia Eyes $3 B Purchase of AI21 Labs: Reports indicate that Nvidia is in advanced negotiations to acquire Israel‑based AI21 Labs for between $2 billion and $3 billion. AI21, co‑founded by Mobileye’s Amnon Shashua, specializes in large language models and previously attracted investment from Nvidia and Google. The potential takeover would further consolidate Nvidia’s AI ecosystem and give it access to AI21’s 200‑strong team of researchers.

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🙌 About Us

AI Pulse is the official newsletter of AIGPE®. Our mission: help professionals master Lean, Six Sigma, Project Management, and now AI, so you can deliver breakthroughs that stick.

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