Inside the funding round driving the shift to intelligent construction fleets
Updated
February 7, 2026 2:12 PM
Aerial shot of an excavator. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Bedrock Robotics has raised US$270 million in Series B funding as it works to integrate greater automation into the construction industry. The round, co-led by CapitalG and the Valor Atreides AI Fund, values the San Francisco-based company at US$1.75 billion, bringing its total funding to more than US$350 million.
The size of the investment reflects growing interest in technologies that can change how large infrastructure and industrial projects are built. Bedrock is not trying to reinvent construction from scratch. Instead, it is focused on upgrading the machines contractors already use—so they can work more efficiently, safely and consistently.
Founded in 2024 by former Waymo engineers, Bedrock develops systems that allow heavy equipment to operate with increasing levels of autonomy. Its software and hardware can be retrofitted onto machines such as excavators, bulldozers and loaders. Rather than relying on one-off robotic tools, the company is building a connected platform that lets fleets of machines understand their surroundings and coordinate with one another on job sites.
This is what Bedrock calls “system-level autonomy”. Its technology combines cameras, lidar and AI models to help machines perceive terrain, detect obstacles, track work progress and carry out tasks like digging and grading with precision. Human supervisors remain in control, monitoring operations and stepping in when needed. Over time, Bedrock aims to reduce the amount of direct intervention those machines require.
The funding comes as contractors face rising pressure to deliver projects faster and with fewer available workers. In the press release, Bedrock notes that the industry needs nearly 800,000 additional workers over the next two years and that project backlogs have grown to more than eight months. These constraints are pushing firms to explore new ways to keep sites productive without compromising safety or quality.
Bedrock states that autonomy can help address those challenges. Not by removing people from the equation—but by allowing crews to supervise more equipment at once and reduce idle time. If machines can operate longer, with better awareness of their environment, sites can run more smoothly and with fewer disruptions.
The company has already started deploying its system in large-scale excavation work, including manufacturing and infrastructure projects. Contractors are using Bedrock’s platform to test how autonomous equipment can support real-world operations at scale, particularly in earthmoving tasks that demand precision and consistency.
From a business standpoint, the Series B funding will allow Bedrock to expand both its technology and its customer deployments. The company has also strengthened its leadership team with senior hires from Meta and Waymo, deepening its focus on AI evaluation, safety and operational growth. Bedrock says it is targeting its first fully operator-less excavator deployments with customers in 2026—a milestone for autonomy in complex construction equipment.
In that context, this round is not just about capital. It is about giving Bedrock the runway to prove that autonomous systems can move from controlled pilots into everyday use on job sites. The company bets that the future of construction will be shaped less by individual machines—and more by coordinated, intelligent systems that work alongside human crews.
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Where Hollywood magic meets AI intelligence — Hong Kong becomes the new stage for virtual humans
Updated
February 7, 2026 2:18 PM
William Wong, Chairman and CEO of Digital Domain. PHOTO: YORKE YU
In an era where pixels and intelligence converge, few companies bridge art and science as seamlessly as Digital Domain. Founded three decades ago by visionary filmmaker James Cameron, the company built its name through cinematic wizardry—bringing to life the impossible worlds of Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the Marvel universe. But today, its focus has evolved far beyond Hollywood: Digital Domain is reimagining the future of AI-driven virtual humans—and it’s doing so from right here in Hong Kong.
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“AI and visual technology are merging faster than anyone imagined,” says William Wong, Chairman and CEO of Digital Domain. “For us, the question is not whether AI will reshape entertainment—it already has. The question is how we can extend that power into everyday life.”
Though globally recognized for its work on blockbuster films and AAA games, Digital Domain’s story is also deeply connected to Asia. A Hong Kong–listed company, it operates a network of production and research centers across North America, China and India. In 2024, it announced a major milestone—setting up a new R&D hub at Hong Kong Science Park focused on advancing artificial intelligence and virtual human technologies. “Our roots are in visual storytelling, but AI is unlocking a new frontier,” Wong says. “Hong Kong has been very proactive in promoting innovation and research, and with the right partnerships, we see real potential to make this a global R&D base.”
Building on that commitment, the company plans to invest about HK$200 million over five years, assembling a team of more than 40 professional talents specializing in computer vision, machine learning and digital production. For now, the team is still growing and has room to expand. “Talent is everything,” says Wong. “We want to grow local expertise while bringing in global experience to accelerate the learning curve.”
Digital Domain’s latest chapter revolves around one of AI’s most fascinating frontiers: the creation of virtual humans.
These are hyperrealistic, AI-powered virtual humans capable of speaking, moving and responding in real time. Using the advanced motion-capture and rendering techniques that transformed Hollywood visual effects, the company now builds digital personalities that appear on screens and in physical environments—serving in media, education, retail and even public services.
One of its most visible projects is “Aida”, the AI-powered presenter who delivers nightly weather reports on the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). Another initiative, now in testing, will soon feature AI-powered concierges greeting travelers at airports, able to communicate in multiple languages and provide real-time personalized services. Similar collaborations are under way in healthcare, customer service and education.
“What’s exciting,” says Wong, “is that our technologies amplify human capability, helping to deliver better experiences, greater efficiency and higher capacity. AI-powered virtual humans can interact naturally, emotionally and in any language. They can help scale creativity and service, not replace it.”
To make that possible, Digital Domain has designed its system for compatibility and flexibility. It can connect to major AI models—from OpenAI and Google to Baidu—and operate across cloud platforms like AWS, Alibaba Cloud and Microsoft Azure. “It’s about openness,” says Wong. “Our clients can choose the AI brain that best fits their business.”
Establishing a permanent R&D base in Hong Kong marks a turning point for the company—and, in a broader sense, for the city’s technology ecosystem. With the support of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) in Hong Kong, Digital Domain hopes to make the city a creative hub where AI meets visual arts. “Hong Kong is the perfect meeting point,” Wong says. “It combines international exposure with a growing innovation ecosystem. We want to make it a hub for creative AI.”
As part of this effort, the company is also collaborating with universities such as the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University to co-develop new AI solutions and nurture the next generation of engineers. “The goal,” Wong notes, “is not just R&D for the sake of research—but R&D that translates into real-world impact.”
The collaboration with OASES underscores how both the company and the city share a vision for innovation-led growth. As Peter Yan King-shun, Director-General of OASES, notes, the initiative reflects Hong Kong’s growing strength as a global innovation and technology hub. “OASES was set up to attract high-potential enterprises from around the world across key sectors such as AI, data science, and cultural and creative technology,” he says. “Digital Domain’s new R&D center is a strong example of how Hong Kong can combine world-class talent, technology and creativity to drive innovation and global competitiveness.”
Digital Domain’s story mirrors the evolution of Hong Kong’s own innovation landscape—where creativity, technology and global ambition converge. From the big screen to the next generation of intelligent avatars, the company continues to prove that imagination is not bound by borders, but powered by the courage to reinvent what’s possible.