Eric Trump-backed startup uses AMD chips for humanoid robots, builds military variants

Foundation Future Industries, a startup backed by Eric Trump, will use Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) chips to develop autonomous humanoid robots for both factory and military applications. Industrial customers are expected to pay approximately $100,000 per year to lease each robot.

AMD Chips to Power Next-Generation Phantom Robot

According to a Reuters report, Foundation Future Industries announced Thursday that AMD's Ryzen AI Embedded X100 Series processors will power its Phantom MK-2 robot. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Eric Trump, who invested in the startup earlier this year, serves as the company's chief strategy adviser.

AMD introduced the X100 family in January as part of its push into embedded artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. The processors combine:

• Zen 5 CPU cores
• RDNA 3.5 graphics
• XDNA 2 neural-processing unit

This architecture enables robots to run perception, reasoning, and control workloads locally. AMD states the portfolio targets "physical AI for autonomous systems, including humanoid robotics."

The agreement extends AMD's reach beyond data-center accelerators and AI PCs into edge computing, where machines must process sensor data and respond in real time. AMD has positioned its embedded AI portfolio for industrial automation, vehicles, and humanoid robotics.

Foundation Plans Major Production Expansion

Foundation, founded in 2024, told Reuters that its Phantom MK-1 robots helped build more than 24,000 vehicles in 2025.

CEO Sankaet Pathak said the company will open a factory in October capable of producing 5,000 Phantom robots annually. The startup also plans to begin building another facility early next year with capacity for 50,000 robots per year. Together, the plants could eventually produce 55,000 units annually, though Foundation did not identify customers or disclose confirmed orders.

Pricing structure:

• Industrial customers: ~$100,000 per year per robot (lease)
• Defense variants: ~$300,000 per unit, targeting materials handling and reconnaissance

Defense Push Revives Conflict-of-Interest Concerns

The military expansion places Foundation within the growing defense-autonomy market. Eric Trump and his brother Donald Trump Jr. have also backed drone and robotics companies including:

• XTEND
• Unusual Machines Inc.
• Powerus

Eric Trump had previously invested in XTEND's planned $1.5 billion U.S. listing.

The Trump family's stakes in companies seeking government business have drawn conflict-of-interest scrutiny while Donald Trump serves as president. Similar concerns previously surfaced around Foundation's government work.

Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that AMD stock maintains a strong price trend in the short, long, and medium terms, with a solid growth score.

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