Tesla has started production of Optimus in Fremont. The company said the current manufacturing process is "suitable for a commercial product." More details to come as we head into the earnings call...

This summer, a private chef came to my SF apartment to prepare a three-course meal of burrata salad, baked salmon, and tiramisu. The dinner was completely free, but of course there was a catch! My latest about the sprawling global effort to collect data on how humans interact with the physical world to train intelligent robots. 🎁 link below

Multiply Labs, which builds robots for manufacturing complex drugs, has raised $75 million. Round was led by NantWorks, a holding company founded by billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong. Other investors include AstraZeneca, a Multiply customer, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund. More in @BusinessInsider and 🎁 link below

The hottest field trip for Silicon Valley investors this year? Robot factories in China. Dozens of investors are heading east, not to hunt for deals but to size up the competition facing their portfolios. Some venture firms have organized trips for partners, while other investors are paying $10,000 for tours with translators, five-star hotels, and private dinners with Chinese tech executives. 🎁 link below

Scoop: robotics startup FieldAI has raised $700 million at a $10 billion valuation, according to a person familiar with the deal, more than quadrupling its valuation in just over a year. The round brings FieldAI's valuation closer to its competitors, including Physical Intelligence, valued at roughly $11 billion, and Skild AI, valued at more than $14 billion. 🎁 link below

Working on a list of the rising stars of robotics. Who are the up-and-coming researchers, founders, engineers, product leaders, operators, and investors making waves in the industry? Nominate them here before Friday, October 23. Gift link below.