In the heart of San Francisco, a controversial startup is reshaping the future of warfare with humanoid robots that could straight-up transform military operations.

Foundation, a local robotics company, is boldly positioning itself at the intersection of tech innovation and defense strategy by developing Phantom, a humanoid robot designed to potentially serve military purposes. Unlike competitors who have pledged not to weaponize their robots, Foundation’s founders are unapologetically open to attaching guns and other weapons to their mechanical workforce.

The startup’s co-founder Mike LeBlanc, a former Marine, sees this as a necessary evolution of national defense. With a background in robotics and military service, LeBlanc argues that refusing to develop militarized robots is essentially an “absolute dereliction of duty” to national security.

Foundation’s approach is turning heads in Silicon Valley. While many tech companies historically shied away from military contracts, the landscape is rapidly changing. Driven by geopolitical tensions and technological advances in AI and sensor technology, defense tech startups received a staggering $28 billion in investments this year.

The company’s Phantom robot isn’t just a sci-fi fantasy. Priced at $100,000 per year, these humanoids could potentially perform tasks ranging from factory work to border patrol, with the Department of Homeland Security already showing interest.

However, the militarization of humanoid robots raises significant ethical concerns. Bioethicists and researchers warn about the potential moral hazards of deploying autonomous machines in conflict zones, questioning how these robots would distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.

Foundation remains undeterred. The startup is currently in talks to raise $150 million, with investments coming from sources including sovereign wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates. Their vision extends beyond immediate military applications, with co-founder Sankaet Pathak dreaming of robotic workforces that could eventually operate on lunar or Martian surfaces.

As the line between technological innovation and military application continues to blur, Foundation represents a provocative glimpse into a future where humanoid robots might become standard equipment for national defense.