Robotics may be approaching a major leap, but the foundations of physical AI are still being assembled. Amulya Vishwanath, founder and managing partner of Techable Ventures, describes the field as being in its "LEGO era": innovators are developing the individual components that could eventually combine into increasingly capable robots.
Those building blocks include robotic hands, actuators and foundational software. Both general-purpose and specialized machines are in development, while companies rethink the technologies needed to help robotics innovation scale.
Vishwanath, who spent nearly seven years in product marketing at Nvidia before launching her investment firm, sees the current phase as part of a familiar pattern. In previous periods of technological change, foundational tools and systems took shape before broader applications emerged.
She also highlights talent as a key factor in the sector's growth. Techable Ventures aims to connect founders with skilled people, drawing on Vishwanath's professional network and experience in the industry.
As hardware, software and expertise continue to develop, today's separate components could help enable more advanced robotic systems and broaden the practical role of physical AI.
