We Study Billionaires - The Investor’s Podcast Network TECH010: The Real Robotics Timeline w/ Ken Goldberg (Tech Podcast)
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Dec 24, 2025 
Ken Goldberg, a leading robotics researcher and founder of Ambi Robotics, dives into the challenges of robotics today. He addresses concerns about a disconnection between advanced AI language models and the physical manipulation capabilities of robots. Goldberg explains why tasks like tying shoelaces are still out of reach for robots, discusses the importance of tactile sensing in robotics, and highlights how simpler grippers can outperform complex robotic hands. He also sheds light on the vast data gap that hinders progress in this field and emphasizes the engineering behind real-world robotic applications.
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Language AI ≠ Physical Intelligence
- Advances in AI language do not automatically translate to physical robotic manipulation capability.
- Ken Goldberg warns inflated expectations risk misjudging robotics timelines and challenges.
Mobility Outpaces Dexterity
- Mobility (quadrupeds, drones) has progressed far faster than dexterous manipulation.
- Goldberg highlights manipulation as the nuanced remaining bottleneck for humanoid capabilities.
Human Touch Is Rich And Hard To Replicate
- Human fingertip sensing involves ~15,000 sensors and joint feedback enabling subtle force and deformation perception.
- Robots lack equivalent tactile sensing and deformation modeling, causing frequent failures in delicate tasks.