The Donald Trump administration is reportedly shifting focus: after its aggressive push on artificial-intelligence development, it is now signalling a major move toward robotics. According to recent reports, the government — led by U.S. Department of Commerce and its head Howard Lutnick — is evaluating issuing an executive order to accelerate the robotics industry, and Lutnick has been meeting with robotics-industry CEOs to chart the next steps.
The stated rationale: robotics and advanced manufacturing are seen as key to “bringing critical production back to the United States.” This suggests a policy push not only to further technological leadership in AI and automation, but also to strengthen domestic manufacturing, supply-chain resilience, and economic competitiveness.
The move comes after the administration’s earlier 2025 AI-acceleration agenda, which emphasized fast adoption of AI infrastructure, deregulation, and expansion of frontier-AI capabilities. In that context, a robotics push can be seen as a logical next phase: shifting from “software and algorithms” toward “embodied automation” — i.e. machines that operate in the physical world.
But the shift raises important questions. While robotics promises gains in manufacturing and productivity, it also brings risks around labor displacement, industrial transformation, and regulatory oversight. Critics argue that without proper guardrails, a rapid robot-driven industrial makeover could exacerbate inequality and disrupt job markets — especially for lower-skilled workers.
