the recent statement from Boston Dynamics et al. that they're never going to work on weaponized robots, alongside the growing market for quadrupedal military robots that look barely removed from their designs, makes me suspect that either
a) there's some quiet technology-exchange program that allows them to keep their hands officially clean while still profiting from the weaponization of robots;
b) they know that they no longer have a technological lead in this subfield of robotics so instead they're rebranding as The Ethical Robot Company, the same way Lyft saw Uber's PR struggles and reacted by branding themselves as The Ethical Scab Cab
pretty depressing either way
