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  4. Physical AI is in its LEGO era, says VC
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Robotics

Physical AI is in its LEGO era, says VC

TechCrunch: Ex-Nvidia-turned-VC Amulya Vishwanath: ‘Physical AI is in its LEGO era’

It’s the moment everyone is waiting for — the ChatGPT moment for robotics, Amulya Vishwanath explained to TechCrunch’s Equity.

Get smart on it

A venture capitalist who previously worked in product marketing at a major chip manufacturer founded a VC firm focused on physical AI and robotics. She describes the current state of the robotics industry as being in a "LEGO era," where foundational software and basic building blocks like robotic hands and actuators are being developed and refined before they can combine into more advanced systems. She compares this phase to previous technological transitions like the internet era and the Industrial Revolution, suggesting that innovation will eventually scale as these components mature. A key challenge she identifies is talent, as many skilled workers are joining large AI companies, which is why her firm focuses on connecting founders with top talent to maintain competitiveness.

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Reservoir launches new agricultural robotics incubator for Washington growers

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Daimon Robotics building the infrastructure layer for tactile intelligence

Credit: Daimon Robotics Vision has become central to modern robotics, but cameras alone cannot tell a robot everything it needs to know about physical contact. When handling flexible objects, inserting components, or manipulating delicate items, robots need information about forces, slippage, and contact that visual systems may miss. Daimon Robotics wants to provide the infrastructure to help robots develop that capability. Rather than focusing exclusively on tactile sensors or devel

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A woman was arrested in Philly for blocking a delivery robot

Carolyn Marvin was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after blocking the path of an Uber delivery robot and refusing to get out of the way. Marvin told Philadelphia's ABC13 "I know they're taking the jobs of human delivery workers and so, I have been protesting them whenever I saw them by standing in front of them and preventing them from going forward." Police responded to the scene and asked Marvin to move out of the robot's way. When she refused, they placed her in