Seattle laser-weeding robot maker Carbon Robotics trims its workforce, citing economic conditions

Carbon Robotics, the Seattle agricultural technology company known for its AI-powered, laser-weeding farm implements, has reduced its workforce, GeekWire reported on Monday. The company did not disclose how many people were laid off but confirmed that the cuts affected employees across multiple departments in the U.S. and internationally.

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Carbon Robotics now employs 275 people worldwide, according to vice president of marketing Brett Goodwin, who said the company needed to “realign costs due to broader economic conditions.”

The company’s signature product is the LaserWeeder, pulled behind a tractor, which uses AI to detect and map plants in fields and eliminate weeds with lasers; its latest version is the LaserWeeder G2. Carbon raised $20 million last year to develop an undisclosed AI-powered farm robot and unveiled an autonomous tractor kit in 2025.

Founded in 2018 and led by CEO Paul Mikesell, Carbon Robotics has raised about $177 million from investors including BOND, NVentures and Anthos Capital. Mikesell recently told AgFunder the company had crossed $100 million in revenue and intends to go public eventually. It was named Next Tech Titan at the 2026 GeekWire Awards.