Amulya Vishwanath, a former product marketing leader for NVIDIA's robotics platforms, argues that the field is still in its 'Lego era,' with fundamental components like actuators, software, and safety standards yet to be fully developed.

This perspective contrasts with those who believe robotics, powered by a single general foundation model, is on the cusp of a 'ChatGPT moment,' where highly capable AI tools revolutionize the industry. Vishwanath, now the founder and managing partner of Techable VC, explains how she is investing in physical AI across robotics, materials science, and life sciences.

Reflecting on her journey from a high-profile tech company to a venture capitalist, Vishwanath shares insights from her unique position as one of the first women executives to spin out of NVIDIA and launch her own firm.

Despite the optimism surrounding general foundation models, Vishwanath emphasizes the need for robust, specialized technology in robotics. For now, the field remains in a phase of building basic components rather than achieving groundbreaking capabilities.

In an episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Vishwanath discusses her current investments and the challenges of bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI and practical applications in the physical world.