Ep 94 | What Made Us Strong Is Now Holding Us Back (w/ Marco Huber)

In this episode, I talk with Prof. Dr. Marco Huber, Professor for Cognitive Production Systems at the University of Stuttgart and Scientific Director for AI at Fraunhofer IPA.

Marco shares his journey from a middle-class upbringing with no academic role models to becoming a leading figure in applied AI for manufacturing. We talk about discovering computer science through a single physics teacher, why he almost went to vocational school, and how a mix of personal drive and mentors shaped his path.

We spend some time on his years between academia and industry, what he learned working in high-pressure startups, and why real innovation happens when theory meets factory floors. Marco explains how Germany still leads in fundamental AI research but is at risk of losing the race when it comes to turning research into scalable industrial products.

A conversation about explainable AI, robotics in production, and why Europe has only a small window left to turn Physical AI into a competitive advantage.