Share

cover art for Robotics: The Future of Humanoids, Home Robots, and Real-World Use

What's Next with Philip Meissner

Robotics: The Future of Humanoids, Home Robots, and Real-World Use

Season 1, Ep. 22
•

What if robotics isn’t held back by technology—but by a lack of real-world applications?


Robotics legend Helen Greiner, co-founder of iRobot, explains why humanoids, home robots, and drone delivery are closer than ever—yet still struggling to break through. She reveals how AI vision is transforming robot capabilities, why regulation is slowing adoption, and which tasks robots will realistically take over in the next decade.


Watch now and discover what’s truly next in robotics.

 

Timestamps:

00:00 Why a Career in Robotics

00:44 Challenges in Early Robotics

01:59 Broad Robotics Applications

03:10 iRobot’s Early Years

04:03 Robots in the Next Five Years

05:00 Dull, Dirty & Dangerous Jobs

06:05 Robots in the Home

06:35 Robotics vs. AI Progress

07:15 How AI Helps Robotics

07:53 Humanoid Robots Today

09:41 Office Cleaning as First Use Case

10:16 Hardware vs. Software Gaps

10:43 Media Hype vs. Reality

11:53 Where Humanoids Add Value

13:01 Will We Have a Billion Robots?

13:50 Life with Widespread Robots

15:09 Most Exciting Robotics Applications

16:48 Drone Delivery & Regulations

17:41 Countries Leading in Robotics

18:41 Robotics, Security & Policy

20:11 Military Robot Stories

22:45 Robots as Assistants

23:25 Choosing Projects in Robotics

24:33 Advice for Young Engineers

25:15 Bio-Robotics Explained

25:56 What Makes Helen Optimistic


 

Connect with Philip Meissner:

linkedin.com/in/pmeissner 

 

Connect with Helen Greiner:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-greiner-382295/ 



#Robotics #AI #HumanoidRobots #DroneDelivery #Automation #FutureTech #ArtificialIntelligence #RobotApplications #HomeRobots #AutonomousSystems #ComputerVision #TechInnovation #iRobot #RegulationTech #FutureOfWork

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Highlights: Clément Ray on Fish Feed Is Pressuring Our Oceans: Can Insects Break the Cycle?

    07:55|
    We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with insights on how insect feed went from banned to legal in a year, why food startups get no policy support, and how InnovaFeed plans to scale worldwide.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/N1Lnfn6AAuMApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clément-ray-on-fish-feed-is-pressuring-our-oceans-can/id1793306908?i=1000799533596Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cqpgdA5HAtN1FYiXPI8Wi?si=t4Vz5u0rTvitkxknR0PcPg"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
  • 47. Clément Ray on Fish Feed Is Pressuring Our Oceans: Can Insects Break the Cycle?

    32:15||Season 1, Ep. 47
    Fish farming is growing fast. The question is what will feed it.Clément Ray, co-founder of Innovafeed, reveals how his company uses black soldier flies to transform agricultural byproducts into sustainable protein for fish feed.In this episode, he explains:• Why fish feed is a hidden pressure point in our food system• How insect farming works at industrial scale• What makes a sustainable solution commercially viable• How policy shapes the future of food innovation• The founder lessons behind building a new industryWatch the full conversation for a sharp look at the future of protein, food security, and sustainable growth.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:48 From McKinsey to Innovafeed03:26 The environmental impact of fish feed04:47 Growing demand for protein07:00 Why insects are an alternative08:33 How insect farming works09:48 Making vertical farming commercially viable12:20 Scaling production in stages14:54 Regulation and policy support17:14 Insect protein in aquaculture and pet food18:55 Target markets and fish species19:55 Global production and partnerships20:55 Sustainability and customer priorities22:46 Food security and the next decade24:56 Why Clément started Innovafeed26:10 Adapting company culture as you grow29:15 Advice for young founders30:11 What gives Clément hopeConnect with Clément Ray:linkedin.com/in/clément-ray-7527922aWhat’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#InsectProtein #FishFeed #Aquaculture #SustainableAquaculture #BlackSoldierFly #AlternativeProtein #InsectFarming #CircularEconomy #Innovafeed #ClementRay #FishmealAlternative #SalmonFarming #ShrimpFarming #FoodInnovation #SustainableFood
  • Highlights: Brandon Sorbom Co-Founder of Commonwealth Fusion: How Close Are We to Limitless Energy?

    08:10|
    We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with surprising insights into a sun we could switch on, a billion years of fuel, and the powerful magnets that could bring nearly limitless energy within reach.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/BG0gFYm4ehAApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brandon-sorbom-co-founder-of-commonwealth-fusion-how/id1793306908?i=1000797183506Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7L0UIB8jtwbMybFlFUyRC8?si=x3ylhkfATPev9oX2io0nNg"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
  • 46. Brandon Sorbom Co-Founder of Commonwealth Fusion: How Close Are We to Limitless Energy?

    26:52||Season 1, Ep. 46
    A sun we can switch on. Enough fuel for a billion years. How close are we to turning that promise into electricity?Brandon Sorbom, cofounder and Chief Science Officer of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, joins Philip Meissner to explain why fusion is getting closer and what it will take to bring it to the power grid.In this episode, discover:How stronger magnets could unlock practical fusion power.Where the SPARC demonstration machine stands and what the team is targeting for 2027.How fusion differs from nuclear fission in safety and radioactive waste.Why fusion could provide continuous power alongside solar and wind.How abundant energy could transform everything from AI data centers to clean water production.Watch to learn what’s already working, what remains difficult, and how close we are to building a sun on Earth.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:39 Bringing the Sun’s Power to Earth02:24 Why Fusion Is Closer Than Ever04:40 The Magnets Making Fusion Possible07:02 Building Magnets for a Fusion Plant09:05 Turning Skepticism into Progress10:09 SPARC’s Road to 202712:24 Putting the Fusion Machine Together13:40 Fusion vs. Fission Explained16:09 Clean Power Around the Clock17:23 Beyond AI Data Centers18:42 Rethinking Energy Security20:16 From MIT Research to a $4 Billion Company21:38 The Team Behind Fusion23:13 Choosing Work That Matters24:04 Why Hardware Innovation Is Back25:42 Reasons to Be OptimisticConnect with Brandon Sorbom :LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sorbomWhat’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#FusionEnergy #NuclearFusion #CleanEnergy #BrandonSorbom #CommonwealthFusionSystems #SPARC #FusionPower #EnergyInnovation #MIT #Tokamak #SuperconductingMagnets #EnergySecurity #CleanTechnology #EnergyFuture #Science
  • Highlights: Adam Grant: 3 Myths About How People Bond

    06:50|
    We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with surprising insights as Adam Grant reveals how a public feud and four years of silence with Brené Brown turned into friendship, and why we sometimes write off the people worth getting to know.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/O_GXM0sSlEwApple Podcast: [Apple Podcast Link]Spotify: [Spotify Link]"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
  • 45. Adam Grant: 3 Myths About How People Bond

    32:31||Season 1, Ep. 45
    Instant chemistry is overrated. Keeping the peace can hold you back. And the person you can’t stand might become a close friend.Adam Grant, Wharton organizational psychologist and bestselling author of Think Again and Give and Take, joins Philip Meissner to reveal what we get wrong about human connection. Sharing insights from his new book, Vibe, and the surprising story of his feud with Brené Brown, he explains how stronger bonds begin when we rethink our assumptions.Discover:Three myths that stop us from connectingWhy a difficult conversation can bring people closerHow rivals can become trusted friendsA better conversation starter than “What do you do?”Why asking for help can build a stronger bond than small talkWatch the full episode to understand why we click, why we don’t, and how to connect with more people.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:44 Why Human Connection Matters02:27 Connection in Hybrid Work04:35 Three Myths About Connection06:25 Becoming Friends with Brené Brown09:59 Four Types of Relationships12:11 Bringing People Together17:05 Healthy Conflict Builds Connection20:18 A Better Way to Start Conversations21:31 AI and Human Relationships23:29 Connecting as an Introvert27:27 Connecting Through Shared Interests30:15 Reasons for Optimism Connect with Adam Grant:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adammgrantWebsite: adamgrant.netNew book: Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World explores the social science of human connection and challenges conventional ideas about how we build strong relationships. What’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#AdamGrant #Vibe #HumanConnection #RelationshipPsychology #SocialPsychology #MeaningfulRelationships #CommunicationSkills #HealthyConflict #BuildingTrust #MakingFriends #Leadership #WorkplaceRelationships #Loneliness #BreneBrown #WhatsNext
  • Highlights: Daimler Truck Board Member Jürgen Hartwig: How Leaders Must Adapt

    08:48|
    We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with sharp insights on what AI can do better than leaders, and the critical skills leaders can’t afford to give up.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/SE06jzWCXGgApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daimler-truck-board-member-jürgen-hartwig-how-leaders/id1793306908?i=1000793352686Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0H52p9YWpP0HlXdPAfGGkH?si=cjkOAzz_Q8-1HjalOC_2Tg"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
  • 44. Daimler Truck Board Member Jürgen Hartwig: How Leaders Must Adapt

    32:13||Season 1, Ep. 44
    AI can deliver answers in seconds. But the decisions that matter most still require something technology can’t provide: human judgment.Jürgen Hartwig, Board Member for Human Resources at Daimler Truck, leads the people agenda for around 100,000 employees worldwide. In this conversation, he shares what leadership looks like when technology is moving faster than organizations and certainty is becoming harder to find.Key insights from the episode:Technology moves faster than culture. AI can change overnight. Organizational habits and mindsets can take years.Judgment can’t be delegated to AI. AI delivers information fast, but leaders still have to decide what to do with it and own the outcome.Leaders have to keep learning. Jürgen learns more now than a decade ago and even has a technology mentor in his mid twenties.Waiting for certainty is a risk. Leaders must make decisions without all the answers and be ready to change course.Critical thinking matters more than ever. As AI takes on repetitive work, curiosity, creativity, and independent thinking become more valuable.Watch the full conversation to discover what leadership requires when AI moves faster than certainty.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:00 How Leadership Has Changed02:38 Technology Outpaces Company Culture07:07 Leading Through Uncertainty09:59 Learning and Psychological Safety12:13 What AI Cannot Replace14:52 The Risk of Delegating Judgment to AI17:09 Skills for the Future of Work20:05 Rethinking Business With AI22:15 The Leader of the Future25:15 Lessons From Other Leaders27:05 What Makes People Successful29:19 Career Advice for Young People30:47 Reasons for OptimismConnect with Jürgen Hartwig:linkedin.com/in/jürgen-hartwig-33aa892aWhat’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#AILeadership #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #DaimlerTruck #JürgenHartwig #HumanJudgment #DecisionMaking #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalCulture #CriticalThinking #LeadingThroughChange #ContinuousLearning
  • Highlights: Girish Ramachandran on the Next 70% of Global Growth and Who Will Capture It?

    07:32|
    We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with insights on why AI pilots fail, why the old growth playbook no longer works, and how to compete in the world’s fastest-growing markets.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/2Gg0nuc6AKAApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girish-ramachandran-on-the-next-70-of-global-growth/id1793306908?i=1000791030044Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6CWiRahHT5CG1dF7OBrafr?si=YOydl2LsTkih9EyIlFfyPg"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast! Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends