Amulya Vishwanath, who spent seven years leading product marketing for NVIDIA’s robotics platforms and is now investing in the field, argues that physical AI encompasses more than robots. She characterizes the current state of robotics as its “Lego era,” meaning fundamental building blocks — including actuators, robotic hands, software, and safety standards — are still being developed and rebuilt. This framing contrasts with the view held by some that robotics, driven by a general foundation model, is on the verge of a major breakthrough.
Why it matters
The perspective offers a counterpoint to expectations that foundation-model-powered robotics is about to arrive. By emphasizing unresolved components across hardware, software, and standards, it suggests the field may be earlier in its maturation than optimistic forecasts imply.
Who should care
Investors, robotics developers, and those tracking physical AI may find value in a viewpoint grounded in experience at a major robotics platform vendor, particularly as it reframes where the technology stands today.