Robotics and the Quest for Smarter Machines

In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford mechanical engineering professor Allison Okamura and OpenAI’s Kevin Weil discuss how artificial intelligence will transform modern robotics, where more capable robots will have a significant impact on the economy, and why the United States still lags behind China, Germany, and other countries in deploying robots in manufacturing.

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Host
  • Martin Giles
    Managing Editor, Stanford Emerging Technology Review
Credits

Gabrielle Sierra - Editorial Director and Producer

Molly McAnany - Associate Podcast Producer

Markus Zakaria - Audio Producer and Sound Designer

Episode Guests
  • Kevin Weil
    Chief Product Officer of OpenAI and member at the Council on Foreign Relations
  • Allison Okamura
    Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution

Show Notes

Robots are already a fixture in our daily lives, helping millions of people around the world perform tasks and solve problems. As these machines get smarter thanks to artificial intelligence and other advances, they have the potential to transform a wide range of industries, from healthcare to manufacturing.

 

In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford University mechanical engineering professor and Hoover Institution Science Fellow Allison Okamura brings her expertise in robotics to a conversation with Kevin Weil, the Chief Product Officer of OpenAI. Together, they discuss innovations such as “soft robots,” how artificial intelligence will lead to more capable machines, and what policymakers can do to accelerate the growth of the U.S. robotics industry.


Read the 2025 Stanford Emerging Technology Review at https://setr.stanford.edu/

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In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford University Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Simone D’Amico and CFR’s Space Task Force Project Director Esther Brimmer discuss how private companies are driving innovation in orbit, the new moon race that’s underway, and how increased commercial and military activity raises questions about the responsible use of space.

Technology and Innovation

In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford Emerging Technology Review Faculty Council Member Mark Horowitz and CFR’s technologist-in-residence Sebastian Elbaum discuss where chip manufacturing is heading, how hardware advances are powering the new artificial intelligence (AI) era, and what the United States should prioritize in order to sustain its leadership in this crucial domain.

Technology and Innovation

How do we connect science and engineering labs with Washington and the world of business? From the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review this is The Interconnect, a new podcast discussing emerging technologies and their foreign policy implications.

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