Last month, Microsoft co-founder turned renowned philanthropist and futurist Bill Gates told a national audience that he suspects humans won’t be needed for “most things” within the next ten years. Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to be a better doctor, programmer, and teacher than we could ever be, he predicts.
But can it do the damn dishes and laundry? The verdict is still out on that, or at least the machines haven’t shown up at my doorstep asking to help (yet).
Although if one startup has its way, AI-powered machines will be doing some heavy lifting soon, potentially lending a critical hand to a solar workforce that could use an assist amidst rapid load growth. Another asserts its quantum dot technology can improve energy conversion efficiency and lower the cost-per-watt for photovoltaic (PV) panels. More energy, cheaper, and with less work? Sign me up for that AI future.
Utility-Scale Solar Construction Robots
Cosmic Robotics, founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023, makes AI-powered construction technology aimed at accelerating the deployment of critical infrastructure. By equipping skilled construction teams with intelligent tools designed for real-world conditions, Cosmic believes it can help meet rising demand for clean energy while improving efficiency and expanding workforce capabilities. And the company isn’t alone in thinking that.
In a recent funding round led by Giant Ventures, with participation from MaC Venture Capital, HCVC, and prominent angel investors including Azeem Azhar, Aarthi Ramamurthy, and Nate Williams, Cosmic Robotics secured $4 million to accelerate the buildout of its vision.
Starting with utility-scale solar, the smarter-than-me hunks of nuts and bolts Cosmic builds will be deployed to tackle the hardest, slowest parts of building critical infrastructure, using robotics to bridge labor gaps and accelerate the buildout of U.S. energy infrastructure.
The U.S. must invest at least $9 trillion in infrastructure this decade, the startup points out, with almost $2 trillion required for energy infrastructure alone. Solar PV has emerged as the most scalable and cost-effective solution in most places, and particularly for powering AI data centers and other energy-intensive industries.
But labor shortages and a lack of skilled (and available) engineers limit how rapidly utility-scale projects can be built. Solar module installation can be a slow, manual process… Unless you let a robot handle it.
Cosmic’s first jobsite tool, Cosmic-1A, is purpose-built for utility-scale solar projects where speed, precision, and consistency matter most. Designed to work alongside existing installation crews, the system takes on the most physically demanding aspects of solar panel installation, cutting labor costs by up to 50% and more than doubling daily throughput, Cosmic attests.
Access to power has become the key driver of AI and data center growth, prompting the need for new solutions among utilities, developers, and other stakeholders. This demand growth will test grid reliability, requiring new ways of collaboration and policy structures.
A new DISTRIBUTECH event, DTECH Data Centers & AI, will help stakeholders in this burgeoning industry navigate power constraints and project delays while balancing the demand for sustainable, flexible solutions. Influential executives and thought leaders will assemble in San José, California from May 27-29, 2025 to discuss how AI is transforming the utility landscape and explore ways power providers can manage increasing demand while utilizing the revolutionary tools promised by new technologies.
Registration for DTECH Data Centers & AI is now open – secure your spot today!
Access to power has become the key driver of AI and data center growth, prompting the need for new solutions among utilities, developers, and other stakeholders. This demand growth will test grid reliability, requiring new ways of collaboration and policy structures.
A new DISTRIBUTECH event, DTECH Data Centers & AI, will help stakeholders in this burgeoning industry navigate power constraints and project delays while balancing the demand for sustainable, flexible solutions. Influential executives and thought leaders will assemble in San José, California from May 27-29, 2025 to discuss how AI is transforming the utility landscape and explore ways power providers can manage increasing demand while utilizing the revolutionary tools promised by new technologies.
Registration for DTECH Data Centers & AI is now open – secure your spot today!
Cosmic’s domain-specific AI platform, “Particle,” is a real-time decision engine built for the jobsite. It helps crews in real-time by automating QA, tracking assets, and routing workflows to keep jobs moving, laying the groundwork for fully autonomous construction. Cosmic’s AI-powered tools use multi-modal sensors and advanced AI-perception software to adapt to the sometimes-unexpected challenges of real-world construction and claim to operate reliably in dust, heat, rain, mud, and more.
“Construction is the foundation of society—every road, power plant, and data center is built by expert hands in the field,” offered James Emerick, CEO and co-founder of Cosmic Robotics. “I grew up on construction sites with my grandfather, and most of the tools he used 50 years ago are still in use today. At Cosmic, we’re building the next generation of construction tools, designed to make exceptional crews even more productive—unlocking efficiency gains the industry desperately needs.”
“The more systems we deploy, the more data we collect, strengthening the data flywheel that will transform how critical infrastructure is built,” Emerick added.
“Robotics is at an exciting inflection point, with enormous potential to transform how we build critical infrastructure at scale,” said Madelene Larsson, Principal at Giant Ventures, which led Cosmic’s recent funding round.
Cosmic Robotics was previously recognized with the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize and funding from the JLL Foundation. With the new influx of cash, the startup says it’s now gearing up to bring Cosmic-1A to some of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country.
Quantum Dot Tech Could Make Solar Cheaper
If AI-driven construction equipment isn’t your idea of fun, perhaps you’d prefer a technological innovation positioned to make solar PV more efficient and cost-effective?
UbiQD (pronounced “ubiquity”), a quantum dot (QD) manufacturer founded in 2014, enables products to harness the power of color and light. Its greenhouse technology, UbiGro, uses fluorescence to create a more optimal greenhouse spectrum for crops. Headquartered in Los Alamos, New Mexico, UbiQD is licensing technology developed at notable research institutions, including Los Alamos National Laboratory and M.I.T.
This week, UbiQD announced the close of its $20 million Series B financing round, led by Phoenix Venture Partners with participation from Builders VC, Azura Group, Builders Vision, Stout Street Capital, Seraph Partners, Scout Ventures, New Mexico Vintage Fund, and others.
UbiQD believes its proprietary QD tech can revolutionize light utilization in greenhouse agriculture, solar energy, security, and other critical industries by enhancing the efficiency, durability, and sustainability of fluorescence in such applications.
The company’s innovations were recognized with the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded for the discovery and development of quantum dots. Some of UbiQD’s core intellectual property includes one of the Nobel laureates as an inventor. Tiny nanocrystals, whose properties change based on their size, have opened new possibilities in light optimization, with applications ranging from solar, display, security, medicine, agriculture, design, and more.
Funding from the Series B will be used to scale up manufacturing, expand R&D capabilities, strengthen intellectual property, enhance marketing efforts, and support working capital needs. UbiQD is also making significant upgrades to its existing facilities in Los Alamos, and new infrastructure is planned as part of its broader expansion strategy. A key milestone in UbiQD’s growth roadmap includes plans to build the globe’s largest and most efficient QD supply chain.
“Every major advancement in the history of humankind has been underpinned by materials innovation but unlocked by manufacturing scale, from the iron age to the semiconductor age,” stated Hunter McDaniel, PhD, founder and CEO of UbiQD. “Quantum dots provide an excellent example of this, being at the heart of an ongoing nano and quantum-technological revolution.”
For solar manufacturers, quantum dots can improve energy conversion efficiency, ultimately lowering the cost-per-watt for photovoltaic panels. In February 2025, UbiQD announced the acquisition of Blue Dot Photonics, a company specializing in enhancing solar module performance using perovskite-based quantum-cutting materials. With this acquisition, UbiQD thinks it is uniquely positioned to drive down costs and accelerate the adoption of next-generation solar technologies.
“This is far more than a scientific milestone—it’s a material breakthrough with transformative commercial potential,” said Jim Kim, General Partner at Builders VC. “The outlook is incredibly bright.”
