Amulya Vishwanath, a former NVIDIA product marketing leader, says robotics is still in its 'Lego era' with foundational components like actuators and safety standards still evolving.
This view runs counter to those who believe that robotics, powered by a general foundation model, is about to have its 'ChatGPT moment' — that day when the shockingly capable chatbot was launched in late 2022.
Vishwanath, who spent seven years leading product marketing for NVIDIA’s robotics platforms, now runs Techable VC, a firm investing in physical AI across robotics, materials science, and life sciences. She argues that the field is still in its early stages, with the basic building blocks like actuators, robotic hands, software, and safety standards still being rebuilt.
"Robotics is currently in its 'Lego era,'" Vishwanath said. "We're still figuring out the basic building blocks, and that's a long way from having a single general foundation model that could make much of today's specialized robotics work redundant."
The discussion took place during an episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, where Vishwanath shared her insights as one of the first women executives to spin out of NVIDIA and launch her own early-stage firm. She emphasized the need for continued investment and development in the field.
The conversation comes amid growing interest in robotics and AI, with some experts predicting a major shift similar to the ChatGPT moment. However, Vishwanath remains cautious, highlighting the complexity and challenges that still lie ahead.
Vishwanath did not say when a true 'ChatGPT moment' for robotics might occur, and she acknowledged the limitations of current technology. She noted that while progress is being made, the field is still far from reaching that critical tipping point.
Source: techcrunch
