Ex-Nvidia exec's Techable VC bets on physical AI, says robotics is in its 'Lego era'
On TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Amulya Vishwanath — who spent seven years leading product marketing for Nvidia's robotics platforms — described the early-stage fund Techable VC, which she founded and runs as managing partner, investing in physical AI across robotics, materials science and life sciences. She argues robotics is still in its "Lego era," with building blocks such as actuators, robotic hands, software and safety standards still being rebuilt, a view she frames as counter to those expecting a "ChatGPT moment" from a single general foundation model — General Intuition CEO Pim de Witte told Equity earlier this year that such a model would make much specialized robotics work redundant. Vishwanath also defines physical AI as broader than robots, including "a molecule, a material, a medicine" or a machine on a factory line, and cites problems such as family-run factories short of workers and burned-out surgeons.
It is a check on the pace of physical AI investment, noting that basic components and safety standards remain immature.