S12E1: AI Robotics: Safety, Standards, and Geopolitics

In this episode, Chris Lamont sits down with Oscar Avatare and Akshay Chalana, co-founders of Saphira AI, for an in-depth exploration of AI robotics transitioning from controlled laboratory environments into complex, real-world applications. Drawing on their experience building hardware controls and virtualization systems for companies including Tesla and Amazon, as well as their work on Hyperloop technology—where they worked on challenges like making propulsion, braking, and electronics function in vacuum chambers—Oscar and Akshay examine the critical challenges of establishing robust safety frameworks and industry standards for autonomous systems operating in unpredictable settings. The conversation also delves into how geopolitical tensions and international competition are reshaping the global robotics landscape, influencing both technological development priorities and regulatory approaches across different regions.Links: https://blog.saphira.ai/mobile-robot-safety-standards-understanding-iso-3691-4-(driverless-industrial-trucks)-and-r15-08-(industrial-mobile-robots)-implementation/#1-a-shifting-landscape-in-safety-standardshttps://www.reuters.com/sports/robots-race-play-football-crash-collapse-chinas-robot-olympics-2025-08-15/