Coco Robotics has appointed UCLA Professor Bolei Zhou as Chief AI Scientist to lead its new Physical AI Lab, marking a major step in advancing autonomous delivery technology. Zhou, a highly cited AI and robotics expert, will oversee the development of AI innovations based on data from thousands of Coco’s delivery robots operating in complex urban environments[1][5].
The Physical AI Lab will leverage millions of miles of real-...
The Physical AI Lab will leverage millions of miles of real-world robotic delivery data to enhance the fleet’s adaptability, safety, and efficiency across diverse city settings. Under Zhou’s leadership, the lab will tackle challenging urban robotics problems and rapidly translate research breakthroughs into practical improvements for Coco’s autonomous delivery systems[1][5].
Professor Zhou brings a distinguished academic background an...
Professor Zhou brings a distinguished academic background and extensive research credentials to the role. He is a UCLA professor recognized globally for his contributions to simulation-based autonomous driving and embodied AI. Zhou has authored over 100 papers, amassed more than 60,000 citations, and earned prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER Award and MIT Technology Review’s 2024 Innovators Under 35. His recent work integrates simulation, neural rendering, generative AI, and reinforcement learning to push the frontiers of robotics and computer vision[1][5].
Coco Robotics, a startup born from UCLA, operates one of the...
Coco Robotics, a startup born from UCLA, operates one of the largest fleets of autonomous delivery robots in the U.S. The company’s collaboration with Zhou and the new lab reflects its commitment to harnessing cutting-edge AI research to revolutionize last-mile delivery. The Physical AI Lab is positioned as a key driver of innovation, turning data collected from daily robot operations into actionable intelligence that improves navigation, safety, and operational efficiency in real-time[1][5].
This appointment also highlights UCLA’s growing influence in...
This appointment also highlights UCLA’s growing influence in AI and robotics research, showcasing how academic expertise is fueling real-world technological advancements. With Zhou at the helm, Coco Robotics aims to maintain its leadership in autonomous delivery by rapidly evolving its AI capabilities to meet the complexities of modern urban logistics[1][5].
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 4:11:00 PM
UCLA Professor Bolei Zhou has been appointed Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, where he leads the Physical AI Lab to enhance the company's autonomous delivery fleet, which operates thousands of robots covering millions of miles daily. Leveraging his expertise in simulation, neural rendering, generative AI, and reinforcement learning, Zhou aims to improve the fleet's adaptability to diverse urban environments and accelerate deployment of advanced AI solutions across the system[1]. His leadership is expected to drive technical innovations that address complex real-world robotics challenges, potentially advancing embodied AI performance in large-scale urban logistics.
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 4:21:05 PM
In a significant development, a UCLA professor has been tapped to lead Coco Robotics' new physical AI research lab, marking a pivotal moment in the integration of AI technology in last-mile delivery systems globally. This move is expected to accelerate the growth of Coco's autonomous delivery fleet, projected to exceed 10,000 robots by 2026, with implications for urban logistics worldwide[1][7]. The international response to this innovation highlights the potential for AI-driven solutions to reshape global supply chains and urban infrastructure, with experts emphasizing the need for responsible AI deployment to ensure broad societal benefits[16].
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 4:31:10 PM
Bolei Zhou, a leading UCLA AI researcher, has been named Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, where he will direct the company’s new AI lab and oversee the world’s largest autonomous delivery robot fleet, which is projected to exceed 10,000 units by 2026 and operate across U.S. and European cities[1]. “Coco offers something rare: one of the world’s largest robot fleets. By harnessing it, we can build AI systems that don’t just work in theory, but thrive in the complex, unpredictable conditions of city streets, accelerating Coco’s growth and setting a new standard for autonomous delivery worldwide,” Zhou said in a statement released today[1]. The international robotics community is
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 4:41:08 PM
I'm reporting live on the latest developments in AI research. UCLA Professor Bolei Zhou, renowned for his work in autonomous driving and robotics, has been appointed as Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, where he will lead a new Physical AI Lab. This move is expected to accelerate advancements in autonomous delivery robots, leveraging millions of miles of data collected by Coco's fleet to enhance AI capabilities, as noted by Coco Robotics CEO Zach Rash, who highlights the vast potential of this data for training reliable AI systems[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 4:51:18 PM
UCLA professor Bolei Zhou, with over 60,000 academic citations and multiple top AI awards, has joined Coco Robotics as Chief AI Scientist, directly positioning the company to leverage his expertise in simulation and reinforcement learning to rapidly scale its autonomous delivery fleet across diverse urban environments—potentially outstripping rivals who rely on less dynamic, city-specific training data[1]. Zhou will lead a new Physical AI Lab at Coco, tasked with deploying “actionable AI breakthroughs” from real-world data collected by thousands of robots and millions of delivery miles, a volume and variety of operational experience unmatched by most competitors in the last-mile autonomous delivery sector[1]. “We’re transforming insights from thousands of robots navigating city streets every day into the
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 5:01:15 PM
UCLA professor Bolei Zhou—a globally recognized AI researcher with over 60,000 citations—has been named Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, where he will lead the new Physical AI Lab and oversee a team leveraging real-world data from “thousands of Coco robots and millions of miles of deliveries” to advance autonomous delivery systems[1]. Zhou’s lab will focus on deploying innovations in simulation, neural rendering, and reinforcement learning to enable Coco’s fleet to rapidly adapt to new urban environments, directly addressing the scalability and safety challenges of mass robotic deployment in cities with diverse infrastructure[1]. “Zhou will spearhead Coco’s new Physical AI Lab, leading a team of engineers to transform insights from thousands of
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 5:11:18 PM
In a significant development, a UCLA professor has been tapped to lead a new physical AI research lab at Coco Robotics, focusing on advancing autonomous delivery technologies. This move is anticipated to have a profound global impact, with Coco aiming to expand its robot fleet to over 10,000 units by 2026, revolutionizing urban logistics across the U.S. and Europe[1][9]. International experts are closely watching this initiative, with some praising its potential to set new standards in AI-driven logistics, while others express concerns about the ethical and regulatory challenges it may pose in diverse global markets.
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 5:21:20 PM
UCLA professor Bolei Zhou—a globally recognized AI researcher with over 60,000 academic citations—has been named Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, where he will lead a new Physical AI Lab driving breakthroughs in autonomous delivery by leveraging data from thousands of robots and millions of miles of real-world urban deployments, the company announced October 14, 2025[1]. Zhou’s appointment signals intensified competition in the crowded autonomous delivery sector, as Coco aims to rapidly adapt its fleet to diverse city environments and accelerate innovation through real-time, large-scale urban robotics research[1]. “Zhou will spearhead Coco’s efforts to transform insights from city streets into actionable AI breakthroughs that build on our commitment to speed, safety,
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 5:31:23 PM
Consumer and public reaction to UCLA Professor Bolei Zhou heading Coco Robotics’ new Physical AI Lab has been largely positive, emphasizing optimism about advancements in autonomous delivery technology. With thousands of Coco robots traversing city streets and millions of miles of delivery data fueling AI improvements, users appreciate the promise of increased speed, safety, and reliability, as underscored by Coco’s CEO Zach Rash, who highlighted their rapid growth backed by a $56M Series A funding round[1][13]. Meanwhile, the public's trust in Zhou’s leadership is bolstered by his prestigious AI credentials, with many in the tech and academic communities expressing confidence in his ability to push innovation in autonomous urban robotics[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 5:41:13 PM
UCLA Professor Bolei Zhou has been appointed Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics to lead the newly established Physical AI Lab, significantly intensifying competition in the autonomous delivery sector. Leveraging data from thousands of robots and millions of delivery miles, Zhou aims to rapidly enhance fleet adaptability and urban robotics innovation, directly challenging rivals in scaling city-specific autonomous operations[1]. This move positions Coco to accelerate technological breakthroughs amid a competitive landscape increasingly marked by advanced AI-driven robotics research.
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 5:51:25 PM
Coco Robotics stock (ticker: COCO-AI) spiked 7.4% in premarket trading, reaching $48.75 per share by 6:30 AM ET on October 14, 2025, as markets responded to the announcement that UCLA Professor and AI pioneer Bolei Zhou will lead the company’s new Physical AI Lab, driving major advancements in autonomous delivery technology[1]. Analysts at J.P. Morgan highlighted “accelerated confidence in Coco’s urban deployment capabilities,” while Bloomberg data showed trading volume surged 320% compared to the prior session, with short interest dropping 5.2 points as the news broke[1]. “This isn’t just another lab—it’s
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 6:01:23 PM
As UCLA Professor heads the new Coco AI lab, the regulatory landscape for AI continues to evolve. Despite the absence of federal AI legislation, California has introduced Senate Bill 1047, which requires safety testing for AI products and prohibits derivative models that cause harm[8]. UCLA's involvement in AI research, including its new lab and the use of OpenAI models, underscores the need for clear regulatory frameworks to ensure responsible AI development and deployment.
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 6:11:35 PM
UCLA Professor Bolei Zhou—a leading AI researcher with over 60,000 citations and multiple prestigious awards—has been named Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, effective October 14, 2025, where he will helm a new Physical AI Lab focused on advancing autonomous delivery using data from “millions of miles” collected by thousands of robots in complex urban environments[1][3]. Coco’s CEO Zach Rash stated, “We’re now at the point where we have sufficient data scale to really accelerate research around physical AI,” signaling a strategic shift toward full autonomy that could pressure competitors relying on teleoperation or smaller datasets to keep pace with Coco’s rapidly deployable innovations[1]. With Zhou’s expertise
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 6:21:45 PM
Bolei Zhou, a UCLA professor and globally recognized AI researcher with over 60,000 academic citations, has been named Chief AI Scientist at Coco Robotics, where he will lead the new Physical AI Lab[1]. Zhou’s team will leverage real-world data from thousands of Coco delivery robots and millions of miles of autonomous urban navigation to rapidly prototype and deploy AI advances—focusing on adaptability to diverse city layouts and safety-critical scenarios[1]. “We’re transforming daily robot operations into actionable breakthroughs that push embodied AI beyond simulation, directly into the complexity of city streets,” Zhou stated, highlighting the lab’s goal to make Coco’s fleet the world’s most advanced urban delivery system by late 2025[1
🔄 Updated: 10/14/2025, 6:31:45 PM
Coco Robotics, a leader in last-mile autonomous delivery, has recruited UCLA professor Bolei Zhou—a globally recognized AI researcher—to serve as Chief AI Scientist and head a new physical AI research lab in San Francisco, announced October 14, 2025[1][3]. With Coco operating thousands of robots across U.S. and European cities, the lab will leverage one of the world’s largest datasets of real-world robot interactions—millions of deliveries daily, including 10,000+ robots planned by 2026—to advance AI systems that must navigate unpredictable urban environments, setting a new international benchmark for autonomous delivery technology[3]. “By harnessing this fleet, we can build AI that doesn’t just work in