AI and robotics are interconnected areas. There are several challenges in AI that can help in the advancement of robotics. In this opportunity, we can highlight machine learning as one of the most advanced fields.
Your question is interesting, but I find it difficult to cite specific advances. I'll follow the question.
However, the recent trend in AI is "deep learning" which is just the revival of neural networks form 80s since now we have faster computer, more efficient algorithms, and bigger data-set.
For robotics, they are many different areas. One growing area with interest in the market is autonomous vehicles (both cars and drones).
Thank you very much for your interesting response Mahdi Khoramshahi. Am glad you mentioned the growing area of robotics which is the autonomous vehicles. I am currently developing a hybrid Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) system. I hope to play around facility design layout for effective navigation of the hybrid AGV. I am also glad to know that the recent trend in AI is "deep learning" , a revival of neural networks. You have not mentioned other creative algorithms like VA, GA, etc.