VLC Creator’s New Robot Startup Raises Millions to Power the Future of Physical AI
If you've ever watched a movie on your computer, there's a good chance you've used VLC Media Player. The free software with the famous orange traffic-cone icon has been downloaded billions of times around the world. Now, the man behind VLC believes the next technological revolution won't happen on our screens—it will happen in the real world through robots. His new startup, Kyber, has just secured millions in funding to build the digital infrastructure that could power the future of physical AI.
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| Credit: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images |
From Free Video Software to the Future of Robotics
Jean-Baptiste Kempf is no stranger to building widely used technology. As the lead developer behind VLC Media Player, he helped create one of the world's most successful open-source applications. The software became popular because it was simple, free, and capable of playing almost any media format without complications.
Now, Kempf is turning his attention toward an entirely different challenge: robotics and remote machines. He believes that in the coming years, robots and drones will become as common as smartphones and personal computers are today.
According to Kempf, the world is heading toward an era where hundreds of millions of autonomous machines will operate in warehouses, cities, factories, farms, and even homes. To make that future possible, these machines need reliable infrastructure that allows them to communicate and react in real time.
That is where Kyber comes in.
What Is Kyber?
Kyber is a Paris-based startup developing software that acts as an infrastructure layer for robots and remote devices. Instead of building robots directly, the company is creating the underlying technology that helps these machines communicate, process information, and respond instantly.
Its core product is a software development kit, or SDK, designed to synchronize several data streams at once. These include:
• Video feeds from cameras
• Audio transmissions
• Sensor information
• Remote control inputs
The key feature is minimal latency. In simple terms, the system is designed to reduce delays between receiving information and taking action.
That may sound technical, but it solves a major problem in robotics.
Why Low-Latency Systems Matter for Robots
For humans, a delay of one or two seconds during a video call can be annoying. For a robot, even a fraction of a second can make a huge difference.
Imagine a remotely operated delivery drone navigating a busy city street or an industrial robot handling dangerous materials. If sensor data or control instructions arrive too slowly, mistakes could happen.
Low-latency infrastructure enables machines to:
• React faster to changing environments
• Avoid obstacles more effectively
• Improve remote operation capabilities
• Increase safety and reliability
This kind of technology is becoming increasingly important as companies race to build more advanced AI-powered robots.
The Rise of Physical AI
Artificial intelligence has spent the last few years transforming digital experiences. AI chatbots, image generators, and coding assistants have become mainstream tools.
Now, investors and technology companies are shifting their focus toward physical AI.
Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that interact with the real world through robots, autonomous vehicles, drones, and smart machines. Instead of simply generating text or images, these systems perform physical tasks and make decisions based on real-world conditions.
Industry experts increasingly believe that physical AI could become one of the next major growth markets in technology.
However, powerful AI models alone are not enough.
Robots also need reliable systems capable of processing huge amounts of data while maintaining near-instant communication. Without strong infrastructure, even the most advanced AI software cannot perform effectively in real-world environments.
Why Investors Are Betting on Kyber
Kyber recently raised $5 million in funding led by Lightspeed, a venture capital firm known for backing major AI companies and emerging technologies.
The investment highlights growing confidence in the future of robotics infrastructure.
Investors increasingly see the opportunity not just in building robots themselves, but also in creating the systems that make robots useful and scalable.
In announcing its investment, Lightspeed emphasized a key idea: physical AI is only as powerful as the systems running underneath it.
That statement reflects a broader trend in technology investing. During previous technology waves, companies that built critical infrastructure often became just as valuable as the applications built on top of them.
Cloud computing, internet infrastructure, and mobile operating systems all followed similar patterns.
Now, robotics may be entering the same phase.
A Massive Market Could Be Emerging
Kempf's prediction of hundreds of millions of robots roaming cities and workplaces may sound ambitious, but many industry forecasts suggest the robotics market is growing rapidly.
Businesses are increasingly adopting automation to address labor shortages, improve efficiency, and reduce operational costs.
Several industries are expected to drive demand for robotics, including:
Manufacturing
Factories are deploying more autonomous machines for assembly, inspection, and logistics.
Healthcare
Hospitals are experimenting with robots for deliveries, surgeries, and patient assistance.
Agriculture
Farmers are adopting automated equipment for harvesting, monitoring crops, and managing resources.
Logistics
Warehouses and delivery companies are using robots to sort packages and transport goods.
Public Services
Cities are testing drones and robotic systems for inspections, emergency response, and infrastructure maintenance.
All of these applications depend on reliable communication and real-time data synchronization—the exact problem Kyber is trying to solve.
The Open-Source Philosophy Behind Kyber
One reason many in the technology community are paying attention to Kyber is Kempf's background in open-source software.
VLC succeeded because it was built around accessibility, collaboration, and flexibility. Developers around the world contributed to its growth, helping it become one of the most widely used media applications ever created.
That experience gives Kempf a unique perspective on building technology platforms.
Infrastructure products often become successful when they are developer-friendly and easy to integrate into different systems.
Kyber's software approach could potentially attract robotics companies looking for flexible solutions rather than proprietary systems that lock them into specific hardware ecosystems.
The Bigger Picture for Robotics
The excitement surrounding physical AI is not just about futuristic humanoid robots.
The real opportunity lies in enabling machines to perform practical tasks more efficiently and safely.
As AI becomes more capable, the number of devices requiring real-time communication will likely increase dramatically. This creates a growing need for infrastructure providers that can handle complex streams of data with minimal delay.
In many ways, today's robotics industry resembles the early internet era. New applications are emerging rapidly, but the underlying systems that connect everything together are still being built.
Companies like Kyber are positioning themselves to become part of that foundational layer.
Can Robots Become as Common as VLC?
Predicting the future of technology is never easy. Few people could have imagined that a free media player would eventually be downloaded more than six billion times.
Similarly, the idea that robots could become a common part of everyday life still sounds futuristic to many people.
Yet advances in artificial intelligence, sensors, computing power, and connectivity are bringing that vision closer to reality.
If millions of robots eventually become part of daily life, they will require invisible technologies working behind the scenes to keep them connected and responsive.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf is betting that his next major success will not be another software application on your computer. Instead, it could be the infrastructure powering the machines that reshape how people work, travel, and interact with the world.
For the creator who helped make digital media accessible to billions, the next chapter may involve helping robots move through the physical world just as smoothly.
