I genuinely want to believe in what Fabric Foundation is trying to build. The reason is simple: the problems they are addressing are not about robots lacking intelligence or AI being underdeveloped. In reality, the technology already exists. We already have capable robots, powerful AI, and advanced sensors.
The real challenge lies somewhere deeper and far messier — connecting everything together.
Advanced Robots That Still Cannot Communicate
Every robotics manufacturer tends to build its own isolated ecosystem. They design their own operating systems, communication protocols, data formats, developer tools, and architectures. Most of these systems remain closed.
The result is predictable: Robot A cannot communicate with Robot B.
I once saw a demonstration where two highly advanced logistics robots from different major companies were showcased at the same event. Both machines were impressive. But when asked whether they could coordinate tasks together, both companies admitted that additional integration would be required.
And that integration is usually expensive, complicated, and time-consuming.
This is exactly where Fabric Foundation’s vision becomes interesting. They are not trying to manufacture new robots; instead, they aim to enable existing robots to communicate and collaborate.
Vendor Lock-In: Expensive Systems With Limited Freedom
This part makes me somewhat skeptical about the current robotics industry.
When a company buys a specific robotic system, it often ends up trapped inside the vendor’s ecosystem. The software must come from the official provider, updates depend on the vendor, data is controlled by them, and switching to another system becomes extremely costly.
Instead of creating flexibility, robots can sometimes create long-term dependency.
And what happens if the vendor stops supporting the product or goes bankrupt? Those robots might end up as nothing more than expensive decorations.
Fabric Foundation appears to recognize that this is not just poor business practice — it is a structural flaw in the industry.
Robotics Still Lacks Its Own “Internet”
The Internet succeeded because of global standards.
In robotics, however, there is still no universal framework for robot identity, operational security, machine communication, activity auditing, or cross-border integration.
Because of this, every major robotics project has to invent its own system from scratch.
Imagine autonomous robots from Japan entering ports in Indonesia. Which system verifies their identity? Who trusts their data? Which network authorizes their actions?
Without shared global standards, the idea of large-scale public robotics remains mostly theoretical.
The Risk of Monopoly Is Real
If a small number of corporations end up controlling robotic infrastructure, several problems could emerge:
Access could become extremely expensive
Innovation might become restricted
Smaller countries could fall behind technologically
Global robotics systems could become geopolitically dependent
In the future, dominance may not belong to countries with the largest workforce, but to those controlling robot platforms.
Fabric Foundation appears to be trying to prevent that scenario by promoting an open infrastructure approach.
Cloud Dependence: The Hidden Weakness
Many modern robots are not fully autonomous. They still rely heavily on cloud systems for AI processing, coordination, updates, and data management.
This introduces a serious risk.
If the network connection drops, the robot’s capabilities may degrade significantly. If the server goes down, the robot might stop working entirely.
In a warehouse this might be inconvenient. But in environments like smart cities or healthcare, the consequences could be far more serious.
Imagine a robotic ambulance that cannot operate because the server it depends on is offline.
Why Fabric Foundation’s Approach Makes Sense
Fabric Foundation is not just introducing another piece of technology. The goal appears to be building a global infrastructure where robots can:
Trust each other
Coordinate tasks securely
Maintain auditable activity records
Operate without dependence on a single vendor’s servers
Function across different countries and industries
On paper, this idea is brilliant.
In reality, however, it will be extremely difficult to implement. This challenge is not only technical — it also involves industrial power structures and economic interests.
The Difficult Questions Ahead
Even if the technology works, several big questions remain:
Will major vendors willingly give up their lock-in advantages?
Will governments agree on shared standards and governance?
Who will regulate the network rules?
What happens if the system itself is misused?
In short, the real question may not be whether open robotics is possible — but whether the industry actually wants it.
Fixing the Root Problem
In my view, robotics is not slowing down because the technology is insufficient. The deeper issue is that the ecosystem itself is fragmented, vendor-dependent, lacking common standards, and often lacking transparency.
Fabric Foundation seems to be attempting to address the root causes, not just the visible symptoms.
Will they succeed?
I think it’s possible. But history shows that the best technologies do not always win. What usually succeeds is the system that convinces all major stakeholders to participate.
If Fabric Foundation manages to achieve that, it will not simply be another robotics project.
It could become the Internet for robots.