Humanoid Robots (The Derby Mill Series ep 14)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently described physical AI, a category that includes robots that can perceive, understand and act in the real world, as the next wave in artificial intelligence. So in the last episode before Derby Mill’s summer break, and our first-ever in-person recording session, the team of Ajay Agrawal, Rich Sutton, Sendhil Mullainathan and Niamh Gavin welcome Suzanne Gildert, the CEO and founder of Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies in Vancouver, BC.

Gildert is a pioneering figure in the humanoid robotics community. Here, she discusses with the Derby Mill team such questions as: Why now for humanoid robots? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the bipedal human form factor? What makes humanoid robots difficult to create? The episode concludes with Ajay asking the team what they want listeners to think about during our two-month summer break. See you in September!

GUESTS AND HOSTS

Suzanne Gildert, co-founder & CEO, Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies

Ajay Agrawal, co-founder and partner, Intrepid Growth PartnersRichard Sutton, senior advisor, Intrepid Growth Partners, 2024 Turing Award recipient, pioneer of reinforcement learning and professor, University of AlbertaSendhil Mullainathan, senior advisor, Intrepid Growth Partners, MacArthur Genius grant recipient and professor, MITNiamh Gavin, senior advisor, Intrepid Growth Partners, Applied AI scientist, CEO, Emergent Platforms

LINKS

Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies homepageThe Jenson Huang / NVIDIA presentation Ajay references early in the episode. Reuters storyBoth Sendhil and Rich love the sci-fi novels of Iain BanksDerby Mill show websiteRich Sutton’s home page. Follow Rich on XSendhil Mullainathan’s website. Follow Sendhil on XBe sure to catch every episode of The Derby Mill Series by subscribing on the following platforms:YouTube // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Substack

DISCUSSION POINTS

00:00 Cold open

01:52 Welcome and intro to humanoid robots and Suzanne Gildert

04:20 What’s so hard about building a humanoid robot?

06:15 The complexity of the human body

07:55 So why bother making a humanoid robot?

09:30 Why are humanoid robots so hot right now?

10:50 Why now: AI software

15:49 Rich Sutton explains why humanoid robots are so intriguing

17:05 Can we code robots the same way we approached LLMs?

20:30 Teaching robots with reinforcement learning in simulation

21:47 Sendhil: How important are humanoid robots?

29:10 Niamh: Is the bipedal form factor the best all-around solution?

37:15 Sendhil: What about hybrid human-robot creatures?

41:15 Agent architecture and humanoid robots

44:35 The idea that we explore by random action selection

48:00 Suzanne on types of decision making

52:13 Decision making as centrepiece of economics, and AI

57:19 Quantum physics and self-aware AI

1:00:50 Defining consciousness

1:05:00 Lightning round: Niamh on cost of experimentation

1:06:33 LR: Ajay on what’s RLable

1:07:37 LR: Rich on AI disillusionment

1:08:40 LR: Suzanne on AI consciousness

1:10:20 LR: Sendhil on the “what is AI” turf war

1:18:18 Ajay wraps up season 1

NUGGETS

Nugget 1 - Cost of Experimentation

Intrepid's Ajay Agrawal asks AI scientist Niamh Gavin to name one topic for listeners to reflect on over Derby Mill's summer break.

Nugget 2 - AI Disillusionment and Turf Wars

Intrepid's Ajay Agrawal asks Turing Award winner Rich Sutton to name one topic for listeners to reflect on over Derby Mill's summer break.

Nugget 3 - Consciousness and Empathy

Intrepid's Ajay Agrawal asks Nirvanic CEO Suzanne Gildert to name one topic for listeners to reflect on over Derby Mill's summer break. Her response is to appeal to viewers to question any fearful reaction they have to the notion of conscious AI.

DISCLAIMER

The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as marketing, solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities or investments. The opinions expressed in this video are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of Intrepid Growth Partners or its affiliates. Any discussion of specific companies, technologies, or industries is for illustrative purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to consult with their own financial, legal, and tax advisors before making any investment decisions.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insights.intrepidgp.com