Andra Keay, Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, has been at the forefront of robotics research, commercialization, and policy for decades. A self-described “techno-pragmatist,” Andra has her pulse on the robotics industry, in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world. Importantly, she is conscious and intentional to try and get ahead of the big issues we face down the road with the societal shifts coming as millions of robots, humanoid and other form factors, populate more of our world and interactions.

Andra is pro RoboTopia, and against an AI apocalypse. And robotics offers an insight into the world of AI, as they are AI with arms and legs, removed from the black box behind the screen, but out among us, where the consequences of a hallucination or miscalculation can have physical implications. Industrial robots were behind barricades and safely screens. Next gen Humanoids will work in homes, senior care facilities, factories, and other places with direct interaction with people.

Andra is a frequent industry speaker, and in fact, we’ve shared a few panels together over the years, but this is the first time she’s visited Turn The Lens so we could really get into it without restrictions.

And the timing couldn’t be better. Humanoid robots are having their moment. Figure just raised a $1B Series C, with a $39B post money valuation. Customers are moving from pilots to commercial engagements. Capacities are compounding at an exponential rate.

Oh Yeah, and did I mention LLMs and their like have transformed the robot training paradigm.

The next great wave of technological change is upon us. Humanoid Robotics, AI with arms, legs, and an ability to navigate the world, and do things.

If you follow no one else, follow Andra to keep up on this part of our rapidly changing world. Subscribe to Robots & Startups on Substack.

Andra Keay: Robo-Pragmatist, Humanoids, Technological Shifts, Laws | Turn the Lens with Jeff Frick, Ep42

#AndraKeay #Humanoids #Robotics #AI #TechnologyShifts #Automation #Ethics #RoboticsLaw #TurnTheLens #JeffFrick #FutureOfWork #Innovation #TechPolicy #Simulation #GenerativeAI #GenAI #RoboticsIndustry #FiveLaws #Society #Interview #Podcast #TurnTheLens

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Salvatore (Sal) Mercogliano (Sal), has a Ph.D. in Military and Naval History from the University of Alabama. He served in the Merchant Marine, has been an Adjunct Professor of History/Engineering at the US Merchant Marine Academy for over 17 years, and Chairs the Department of History, Criminal Justice, and Political Science for Campbell University for over 14 years.

So when something happens with ships, shipping, the US Navy or other major maritime news around the world, I go to Sal to find out what’s really going on.

Welcome to the first in a series of YouTube Show reviews that I hope can shed more light on some of the amazing information sources that operate as independents. These experts bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, a network of trusted colleagues, information on the open source data and applications, with knowledge on how to best use them to draw out the relevant information around a specific incident.

When you want to get beyond the sound bite, and have a knowledgeable expert walk you through the details, known and unknown, answers and questions, you get a much better picture of what’s happening in the world around us. Watch a few, with different sources, and one can begin to triangulate consistencies and patterns.

So we kick off the series with Sal Mercogliano, maritime historian, former merchant mariner, and the expert behind the YouTube channel ‘What’s Going on With Shipping’

Sal’s channel ‘blew up’ with his coverage of the Motor Vessel EVER GIVEN gumming up the Suez Canal, and temporarily halting all global shipping through this most important passage. You’ll be amazed at the number of new things happening in and around the oceans impacting us almost every day.

Salvatore (Sal) Mercogliano: What's Going on With Shipping, YouTube Show Review | Turn the Lens with Jeff Frick Ep41

#Commerce #GlobalCommerce #Maritime #Oceans #PanamaCanal #BlackSea #TradeWar #MotorVessel #EverGiven #Ships #Tariffs #Panama #WhatsGoingOnWithShipping #Trade #GlobalTrade #USSTruman #Logistics #Maritime #OpenSource #Shipping #Review #SalMercogliano #SupplyChain #SuezCanal #Trade #TurnTheLens #YouTube

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Transcript and Show Notes - Click Here

Trump 2.0 starts tomorrow. 2025 started 19 days ago.
Remember Project 2025?

Might be a good time to study up on the subject, at least the basics.

Not ready to read the full 920 pages? Google NotebookLM can help. I encourage you to upload the PDF yourself, and start asking questions. Sharing mine to help get you started.

This is the Podcast Google NotbookLM created from the source material.

Project 2025: Briefing doc, FAQ, Study guide, Podcast | Turn the Lens podcast with Jeff Frick

Try it yourself

Google NotebookLM
https://notebooklm.google.com/

Project 2025 - 920 page pdf
https://static.heritage.org/project2025/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWpI3YH4NE

Transcript and Show Notes -