regional: Seattle startup Carbon Robotics gets another shoutout from

Seattle startup Carbon Robotics, a pioneer in chemical-free weed elimination for agriculture, has once again garnered a significant endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy prominently featured the company's innovative LaserWeeder technology during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the highly popular podcast that topped Spotify's global charts in 2025.

This latest shoutout follows a similar commendation earlier this month on the Theo Von podcast, "This Past Weekend," underscoring Kennedy's consistent support for Carbon Robotics' solutions. His remarks highlight the potential of these robots to revolutionize farming by reducing pesticide dependence and lowering operational costs for growers.

High-Profile Endorsement Signals Policy Interest

During his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Kennedy emphasized that Carbon Robotics' technology offers a dual benefit: it eliminates the need for harmful pesticides on farms while simultaneously providing substantial cost savings for farmers. He shared an example from Texas, where the largest onion producer saves over $1,000 per acre by deploying Carbon's machines, primarily due to reduced pesticide use and labor expenses.

Kennedy articulated a clear vision, stating, "We got to get off this stuff, we got to give these farmers an off-ramp so that they can get off it." He expressed optimism for a rapid transition, noting, "There are all these kind of new exciting technologies that give us a light at the end of tunnel to transition. And it could be very, very fast. What the president wants to do is accelerate that."

Precision Lasers for Sustainable Agriculture

At the heart of Carbon Robotics' offering is the LaserWeeder G2, a machine that attaches to the rear of a tractor. It employs an advanced array of AI-powered technology to precisely detect individual plants in fields. Once identified, the system targets and eradicates weeds using lasers, critically achieving this without disturbing the surrounding soil microbiology.

Carbon Robotics CEO and founder, Paul Mikesell, responded to Kennedy's comments with his own video commentary, echoing the sentiment for greater investment in the agricultural technology sector. Mikesell advocates for applying modern innovations, such as AI and self-driving capabilities, to farming to enhance productivity and promote healthier food systems.

Rapid Growth and Pioneering AI in Agriculture

Founded in 2018, Carbon Robotics has quickly established itself as a leader in agtech. The Seattle-based startup has successfully raised $177 million in funding to date and currently employs approximately 260 individuals. Its manufacturing operations are based in Richland, Washington, and the company reports that its LaserWeeder machines are actively deployed on hundreds of farms across 15 countries globally.

Earlier this month, Carbon Robotics further cemented its innovative standing by unveiling the world's first "Large Plant Model." This groundbreaking AI model is specifically designed for plant detection and identification, trained on an extensive agricultural dataset comprising 150 million labeled plants. This innovation promises to enable farmers to initiate laser weeding in any field or crop within minutes, streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency.

Strategic Vision and Strong Backing

Paul Mikesell brings a wealth of experience to Carbon Robotics, having previously co-founded Isilon Systems, a data storage company that was acquired for $2.25 billion in 2010, and leading an infrastructure engineering group at Uber for four years. His vision continues to drive the company's expansion into new frontiers of agricultural technology.

Last October, Carbon Robotics secured an additional $20 million in funding to support the development of a new, yet-to-be-revealed AI-powered farming machine. This follows the prior unveiling of the Carbon ATK, an autonomous platform engineered to integrate with and control existing farm equipment. The company boasts a strong roster of investors, including BOND, Anthos Capital, FUSE, Ignition, Revolution, Sozo Ventures, and Voyager.

Q: Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and why is he endorsing Carbon Robotics? A: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is endorsing Carbon Robotics because he believes their laser weeding technology can help farmers eliminate pesticides, save costs, and accelerate the transition to more sustainable and healthier agricultural practices.

Q: What is the core technology behind Carbon Robotics' LaserWeeder? A: The LaserWeeder G2 uses AI-powered technology to detect individual plants in fields. It then targets and eliminates weeds with lasers, which avoids the use of chemicals and does not disturb the soil microbiology.

Q: What is Carbon Robotics' newly launched "Large Plant Model"? A: The "Large Plant Model" is an AI model for plant detection and identification, described as the world's first of its kind. It was trained on the largest and most diverse agricultural dataset ever created (150 million labeled plants) to enable farmers to quickly implement laser weeding in any crop.