Mind Robotics, an industrial artificial intelligence and robotics startup founded by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, has appointed former Ford electric vehicle executive Doug Field as its president. The move comes as the company prepares to expand its efforts to bring AI-powered robots into real-world manufacturing environments.

Announced on October 13, 2026, during TechCrunch Disrupt, Field’s appointment adds an experienced automotive and hardware engineering leader to the company’s leadership team. He will oversee product development, engineering, and daily operations, while Scaringe will remain involved in the venture.

From Tesla and Apple to Industrial Robotics

Doug Field has built a career around developing complex hardware and emerging technologies. At Tesla, he served as senior vice president of engineering and helped oversee development of the Model 3. He later led Apple’s ambitious Project Titan electric and autonomous vehicle initiative before joining Ford.

At Ford, Field spent approximately five years helping shape the automaker’s electric vehicle and technology strategy. He left the company in April 2026 following a broader leadership reorganization.

His experience across automotive engineering, product development, and advanced technology could prove valuable as Mind Robotics works to develop robots capable of handling complex tasks in factories.

Mind Robotics Wants to Transform Manufacturing With AI

Founded in 2025, Mind Robotics is developing industrial robots powered by AI foundation models. Rather than focusing primarily on humanoid robots designed to imitate human movement, the company aims to build purpose-designed machines capable of performing manufacturing tasks at scale.

The startup is pursuing an integrated approach that combines robotic hardware, AI models, and deployment systems. Its objective is to make robots more adaptable and useful in industrial environments where tasks can be complicated, repetitive, or difficult to automate with conventional machinery.

Rivian is expected to play an important role in this strategy by providing a high-volume manufacturing environment where Mind Robotics can train, test, and deploy its technology. The electric vehicle manufacturer is the startup’s first customer.

More Than $1 Billion in Financial Backing

Mind Robotics has reportedly secured more than $1 billion in backing from investors that include Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Eclipse, Kleiner Perkins, and the venture investment arms of Volkswagen and Salesforce.

That level of financial support signals substantial investor interest in the potential of AI-powered industrial automation. However, the company will still need to demonstrate that its technology can operate reliably and economically in demanding factory environments.

Mind Robotics operates as a separate company, with Rivian holding a minority stake. Scaringe has also established Also, a separate micromobility business focused initially on high-end electric bicycles.

Why Field’s Appointment Matters

The combination of AI and robotics is increasingly attracting investment as companies look for ways to improve manufacturing productivity, address labor-intensive processes, and make production systems more flexible.

Field’s appointment suggests Mind Robotics is preparing to move beyond early development and toward broader operational deployment. His background in delivering complex hardware products could help the startup turn its robotics technology into practical industrial systems.

Nevertheless, scaling factory robotics presents significant challenges. Machines must perform consistently, adapt to changing conditions, and justify their costs before manufacturers can deploy them widely.

Conclusion

Doug Field’s move to Mind Robotics marks a new chapter in a career spanning electric vehicles, consumer technology, and advanced engineering. With substantial financial backing and access to Rivian’s manufacturing operations, the startup is positioning itself to compete in the emerging market for AI-powered industrial robots.

Whether Mind Robotics can turn that ambition into widespread adoption will depend on its ability to deliver reliable robots that solve real manufacturing problems at scale.