Coco Robotics, known for its last-mile delivery bots, has announced the launch of a physical AI research lab, appointing UCLA professor Bolei Zhou as its chief AI scientist. This initiative aims to leverage five years of data collected from the company's delivery operations to enhance the automation of its robots. Co-founder Zach Rash emphasized the importance of this data for training reliable AI systems, stating that the company is now ready to accelerate research in physical AI. The lab will focus on improving robot navigation and efficiency, with plans to share findings with local cities to address infrastructure challenges. Unlike its collaboration with OpenAI, which allows access to AI models, the lab's data will not be sold to competitors but used to refine Coco Robotics' own automation processes. The ultimate goal is to provide high-quality delivery services at lower costs, fostering growth in the delivery ecosystem.