A Nvidia insider-turned-VC on why robotics hasn’t hit its ChatGPT moment, yet
techcrunch ·
Amulya Vishwanath, a former NVIDIA executive turned venture capitalist, argues that the robotics industry has not yet experienced its equivalent to the ChatGPT breakthrough. She characterizes the current state of robotics as its "Lego era," where fundamental components such as actuators, robotic hands, and safety standards are still being reconstructed. This perspective challenges the optimism of some founders who believe that general foundation models will soon render specialized robotics obsolete. Vishwanath shares these insights on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, discussing her transition from leading product marketing at NVIDIA to founding Techable VC. Her firm focuses on early-stage investments in physical AI, including robotics, materials science, and life sciences. The discussion highlights the gap between hype regarding artificial intelligence and the practical engineering hurdles remaining in hardware development. Vishwanath’s experience provides a grounded view on why widespread adoption in robotics is taking longer than anticipated.
techcrunch