Amulya Vishwanath, a former NVIDIA executive who spent seven years leading product marketing for robotics platforms, states that the industry is currently in its “Lego era” because fundamental components like actuators and safety standards are still being rebuilt. This assessment challenges the prevailing belief that a single general foundation model will trigger an immediate “ChatGPT moment” for robotics, a view previously suggested by General Intuition CEO Pim de Witte. Vishwanath now operates as the founder and managing partner of Techable VC, where she writes first checks for early-stage firms working on physical AI across robotics, materials science, and life sciences. She defines the sector broadly to include molecules and medicines, not just machines on factory lines, arguing that the best opportunities solve practical problems such as staffing shortages in family-run factories or surgeon burnout.
Her approach emphasises that founders should view their venture capital firm as a strategic moat, leveraging the network she built during her years at NVIDIA for due diligence and customer introductions. She also considers where the United States and China hold advantages and argues that humanoids must serve functions beyond performance displays. The core of her investment thesis rests on three specific points: physical AI must address tangible constraints in manufacturing and healthcare, automation requires a level of contextual awareness to function effectively, and the market is still developing the necessary infrastructure to support widespread adoption.
- Physical AI extends to molecules and medicines, not just robots.
- Founders should treat their VC firm as a strategic moat.
- Humanoids must solve practical problems, not just dance.
