TechFirst with John Koetsier

John Koetsier
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Deep tech conversations with key innovators in AI, robotics, and smart matter ...

  1. 4 days ago

    Is AI killing jobs or are CEOs using it as an excuse?

    Is AI really causing mass layoffs or are CEOs just using AI as a convenient excuse? In this episode, John Koetsier talks with longtime tech journalist, columnist, author, and podcaster Mike Elgan about why the “AI is killing jobs” narrative may be overblown. Elgan argues that many companies are engaging in AI washing: blaming layoffs on AI to make cost-cutting look like innovation. The conversation goes deep into the future of work, why every major technology shift creates fear before new opportunities emerge, how AI will change education and human skills, and why humanoid robots may be more hype than practical reality. They also explore Elgan’s concept of the attachment economy: a future where AI products don’t just compete for our attention, but for our emotional bonds. Guest Mike Elgan Tech journalist, columnist, author, and podcaster Host of Superintelligent Author of The Attachment Economy on Substack Subscribe for more conversations on AI, robots, innovation, and the future of technology: https://techfirst.substack.com Chapters:00:00 AI, layoffs, and whether AI is really to blame01:00 Meet Mike Elgan02:00 Why people believe AI will cause mass job loss03:00 AI washing and layoffs as a CEO “fig leaf”05:00 Techno-utopian claims about AI replacing work06:00 Why AI layoffs often don’t pass the logic test08:00 Past tech revolutions and new job creation09:00 Companies that lay off because of AI “lack imagination”11:00 Why new industries can create more jobs13:00 Nobody can predict where AI will lead15:00 Why the speed of AI change feels different16:00 AI, robotics, and fear about the future of work17:00 AI natives and generational change19:00 Why humans treat talking AI like a person20:00 Education when facts are instantly available22:00 Cursive, typing, and speech-to-text24:00 Humanoid robots in the home25:00 Human work, creativity, and future value26:00 Why human connection may become more valuable27:00 Are humanoid robots a dumb idea?29:00 Specialized robots vs. humanoid robots31:00 The attachment economy after the attention economy32:00 AI products designed to create emotional attachment34:00 Relationship AI, robot pets, and illusion35:00 Why chatty AI feels conscious36:00 The human brain, AI illusion, and caution37:00 Closing thoughts with Mike Elgan

    37 min

  2. 6 days ago

    Robots in schools? Interviewing Chris Chen from Faraday Future

    Humanoid robots are often pitched as factory workers, warehouse assistants, or home helpers. But what if education becomes their biggest opportunity? In this episode, Faraday Future co-CEO Chris Chen explains why K-12 schools, STEM programs, and university research labs could be among the first large-scale adopters of humanoid robots and robot dogs. Chris shares why Faraday Future believes we’re at the beginning of an “iPhone moment” for robotics, how the company plans to deliver nearly 1,000 robots this year, and why physical AI represents the next major evolution beyond today’s large language models. We also discuss: • Why humanoid robot adoption is accelerating worldwide • The transition from digital AI to physical AI • How robots could help teach coding, STEM, and AI literacy • Security, hospitality, and inspection use cases already being deployed • Why Chris believes robotics could become a much larger market than automobiles • Building a robotics ecosystem powered by data, developers, and AI If you’re interested in AI, robotics, education, automation, or the future of work, this conversation offers a fascinating look at where the industry is headed next. Guest: Chris Chen Co-CEO, Faraday Future Nasdaq: FFAI Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of technology: https://techfirst.substack.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Humanoid Robots in Education 00:31 Faraday Future’s Vision for Physical AI Infrastructure 01:42 The Goal of 1,000 Robot Deliveries 02:22 Why Humanoid Robot Manufacturing Is Accelerating 03:37 The Starting Point of the Humanoid Robotics Industry 04:14 From Digital AI to Physical AI 06:04 Why Schools Are a Key Robotics Market 06:52 The Three Factors Driving Robotics Adoption 07:15 K-12 Education, STEM Training, and Robotics Institutes 08:12 Getting Kids Interested in AI Instead of Games 09:04 The Future Demand for Robotics Technicians 09:43 Humanoids vs. Robot Dogs in Education 09:59 Will Every Student Have an AI Tutor? 10:30 Beyond Education: Security, Inspection, and Hospitality 11:14 Robot Dogs for Autonomous Security Patrols 11:50 The Coming Ecosystem for Robot Maintenance 12:06 Will Humanoid Robots Become Bigger Than Cars? 12:57 How Robots Could Impact Global GDP 13:28 Competing in the Exploding Robotics Industry 13:56 Building a Robotics Flywheel Through Data 15:01 The Team Behind Faraday Future Robotics 15:44 Where Faraday Future Will Be in One Year 16:03 Faraday Future, Robotics, EVs, and Web3 17:00 Closing Thoughts

    17 min

  3. 10 June

    Goodbye wheelchairs. Hello Cruz: autonomous mobility pods

    What if airports had self-driving mobility pods that could safely navigate through crowds, just like something out of The Jetsons? Or the Pixar movie Wall-E? In this episode, John Koetsier sits down with Matthew Anderson, CEO of A&K Robotics, to explore the future of autonomous mobility. A&K Robotics is building AI-powered self-driving pods designed to help people navigate airports independently without relying on wheelchairs or staff assistance. But the real breakthrough isn’t just autonomy. It’s crowd navigation. Matthew explains why navigating dense, unpredictable crowds is one of the hardest problems in robotics, and how A&K’s “crowd-centric AI” could become foundational technology for airports, stadiums, smart cities, conferences, and even humanoid robots in the future. They also discuss: * Why airports are the perfect proving ground for robotics * The AI and sensor stack powering autonomous mobility * Directional sound systems inspired by The Sphere in Las Vegas * Scaling robotics startups from prototype to deployment * Raising an $8M Series A round * The personal story that inspired Matthew to build the company * Why the future of robotics depends on moving safely through human environments Guest: Matthew Anderson — CEO, A&K Robotics Company: A&K Robotics If you enjoy conversations about AI, robotics, startups, and the future of technology, subscribe for more interviews with founders and innovators shaping what’s next. Subscribe here: https://techfirst.substack.com 00:00 – Intro 00:30 – Meet A&K Robotics and the Vision for Autonomous Airport Mobility 01:20 – Why Crowd Navigation AI Is the Hardest Problem in Robotics 02:40 – Navigating Dense Airport Crowds and Passenger Flow 04:05 – Directional Sound and Designing a Better Airport Experience 05:50 – Building an “iPhone Experience” for Mobility Robots 06:30 – Sensors, LIDAR, and Operating Without GPS 07:20 – Fleet Management and Autonomous Operations in Airports 08:00 – Mapping Airports and Optimizing Routes Through Crowds 09:00 – Scaling the Business and Solving Systems Integration 10:00 – Charging, Docking Stations, and the Future Airport Network 10:45 – Raising an $8 Million Series A Round 11:20 – Customers: Vancouver International Airport and Aena 12:10 – Building a Polished Robotics Platform on Seed Funding 12:50 – Matthew Anderson’s Background in Robotics and Drones 14:00 – The Bigger Vision: Crowd Navigation for All Robots 14:40 – The Personal Story Behind the Company Mission 15:40 – Licensing Opportunities and the $5 Billion Airport Mobility Market 16:45 – Hiring, Scaling the Team, and Expanding Production 18:00 – Growing Up Hacking Robots and the AC/DC Story 19:10 – Why Building Robots Is Fun — and Why Accounting Wasn’t 20:40 – Final Thoughts and the Future of Autonomous Mobility

    21 min

  4. 14 May

    AI & education: disaster or destiny?

    Is AI in education a disaster ... or inevitable. We can easily see that AI is already changing education ... but is it making kids smarter, or just more dependent? In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier talks with Navin Gurnani, CEO of Code Ninjas, about how kids can learn to build with AI instead of simply asking ChatGPT for answers. They discuss why coding still matters in the age of vibe coding, how AI can actually strengthen creativity and critical thinking, and the foundational skills kids need to thrive in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. Navin explains how Code Ninjas teaches children as young as 8 to understand AI “behind the curtain,” develop grit and resilience, and gain the confidence to create games, apps, and even entrepreneurial projects powered by AI. The conversation also dives into: * Why passive AI use puts kids at a disadvantage * The mindset future-ready kids need * AI literacy for parents and children * How coding builds confidence and problem-solving skills * Why adaptability may become the most important human skill * The difference between using AI and leading with AI If you’re a parent, educator, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of learning, this episode is packed with practical insights about preparing kids for an AI-driven world. Guest Navin Gurnani — CEO, Code Ninjas Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Apprentice — the first AI agent built for agentic manufacturing. Chapters 0:00 Intro: Is AI destroying education? 1:00 Teaching kids to build with AI, not depend on it 2:00 AI, coding, games, and decision-making 3:00 Why understanding AI builds confidence 4:00 Passive AI users vs. AI creators 5:00 What kids learn at Code Ninjas 6:00 Grit, resilience, and problem-solving 8:00 Belt system and early wins 9:00 Building confidence through teaching others 10:00 AI literacy by age level 11:00 Teaching kids to use AI responsibly 12:00 Coding in the age of vibe coding 14:00 AI-assisted entrepreneurship for kids 15:00 Building future-ready mindsets 16:00 What a future-ready kid looks like 17:00 Adaptability and spotting AI mistakes 18:00 One thing parents should do now

    19 min

  5. 12 May

    Roomba CEO's new home robot: not humanoid!

    What if the next big wave of AI isn’t about robots doing your chores but about robots that understand you? In this episode, we sit down with Colin Angle, co-founder of iRobot and the creator of the Roomba, to explore his bold new venture: Familiar Machines and Magic. After putting over 50 million robots into homes, Angle is now betting on something radically different: a quadruped AI companion designed not for work, but for connection. This isn’t a humanoid. It’s not a vacuum. It’s something entirely new. Powered by on-device multimodal AI, this “familiar” can follow you around your home, learn your routines, encourage healthier habits, and even develop a kind of relationship with you, all while keeping your data private. We dive into: * Why the humanoid robot race might be overhyped * The massive untapped “emotional AI” market * How this robot learns, adapts, and interacts like a pet * Privacy-first AI design (no cloud streaming) * Why form factor matters more than you think * The future of robots in everyday life Colin also shares why now is the perfect moment for physical AI—and how advances in reinforcement learning and edge computing are making this possible. If you thought AI robots were just about automation, this conversation will change your perspective. ⸻ 👤 Guest Colin Angle Co-founder, iRobot Founder, Familiar Machines and Magic ⸻ Sponsor: this episode is sponsored by Apprentice. AI-native manufacturing is here. Apprentice offers the first AI Agent built from the ground up for agentic manufacturing. Connects to all your systems, monitors everything, automates all your processes … but keeps a human in the loop. Check it out at apprentice.io. ⸻ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Colin Angle & Familiar Machines 1:05 What is a “Familiar” Robot? 2:00 Emotional AI vs Humanoid Robotics 3:00 Coming Out of Stealth 4:00 The $2.5 Trillion Opportunity in Emotional AI 5:00 Combining iRobot, Boston Dynamics, and Disney 6:00 Why Robot Form Factor Matters 7:00 First Look: Familiar in Action 8:00 Companionship vs Utility in Home Robots 9:30 Pricing Strategy: Like Owning a Pet 11:00 Managing Expectations in Robotics 12:30 Privacy, Security, and On-Device AI 14:00 How Familiar Communicates Without Speech 15:30 Sensors, AI Stack, and Personality Modeling 17:00 Learning Behavior Like a Pet 18:30 Why Not a Dog? The “Abstract Bear” Design 20:00 Platform Vision and Future Capabilities 21:30 Elder Care and Real-World Applications 22:30 Reinforcement Learning Breakthroughs 23:30 Launch Timeline and Closing Thoughts

    23 min

  6. 20 Apr

    AI-native manufacturing

    AI is everywhere ... except the factory. What does AI-native manufacturing look like? Is it possible? Can AI agents help manufacturers produce more product at better quality?And, maybe also enable onshoring or re-shoring?In this episode, host John Koetsier sits down with Apprentice CEO and founder Angelo Stracquatanio to explore what AI-native manufacturing really means, and why traditional AI models fall short in production environments.Instead of chatbots, this new approach uses event-driven AI agents that respond to real-time manufacturing signals: alarms, equipment data, quality issues, and more. The result? Faster troubleshooting, reduced costs, and entirely new levels of automation.Angelo breaks down how their system combines:* Specialized AI models trained on real manufacturing data* Role-specific agents (for operators, quality teams, engineers, and leadership)* Workflow automation that goes far beyond simple promptsThey also dive into:* Why general-purpose AI struggles in manufacturing* How to eliminate hallucinations with guardrails and workflows* Real-world ROI: faster investigations, lower cost of goods, improved throughput* The future of adaptive factories and personalized production* Why humans remain critical, even in highly automated environmentsIf you’re in manufacturing, operations, or industrial innovation, this is a deep look at how AI is actually being deployed ...and where it’s headed next.This month's TechFirst sponsor is also Apprentice. Check out their AI-native solutions for manufacturing at Apprentice.io.👤 GuestAngelo StracquatanioCo-founder & CEO, Apprentice⏱️ Chapters00:00 AI-native manufacturing explained01:00 Why manufacturing needs specialized AI02:00 Building Apprentice 4.104:00 AI for every role in a factory05:00 Why sub-agents beat one general agent06:00 Troubleshooting and quality investigations07:00 Compressing triage time with AI08:00 Does your factory need more data?09:00 Digital maturity in manufacturing10:00 A practical path to AI adoption11:00 Preventing AI hallucinations12:00 Trust and consistency in production13:00 Constraining AI with workflows15:00 The human-in-the-loop model16:00 Guardrails and source traceability17:00 AI supports, not replaces, humans19:00 How autonomous can factories get?20:00 The adaptive plant future21:00 AI as a new automation layer22:00 Adapting to new products and variants23:00 Why flexibility is the future24:00 Manufacturing for personalization25:00 Personalized medicine use case27:00 Customer results and benefits28:00 AI across MES, ERP, QMS, and IoT29:00 ROI from quality and troubleshooting30:00 Alarm triage at scale31:00 Manufacturing and geopolitics32:00 Onshoring with AI33:00 Throughput, labor, and margins34:00 Let humans do the highest-value work35:00 Reducing COGS with AI36:00 Closing thoughts

    36 min

  7. 15 Apr

    Quantum navigation: Unhackable, GPS-free

    What happens when GPS goes down: jammed, spoofed, or completely denied? In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier sits down with Michael Biercuk, founder and CEO of Q-CTRL, to explore one of the most surprising breakthroughs in quantum technology: quantum navigation. While most of the quantum world is focused on computing, Q-CTRL is building something entirely different: AI-powered quantum sensing systems that can navigate aircraft, drones, and vehicles without GPS. Even more surprising? This technology didn’t exist just over a year ago. Now it’s already shipping. You’ll learn: • How quantum sensors can “see” invisible features of the Earth • Why magnetic and gravitational fields enable GPS-free navigation • How this system achieves 100x better accuracy than current GPS alternatives • Why it works in environments where other systems fail (clouds, water, darkness, interference) • The role of AI software in stabilizing fragile quantum systems in real-world conditions • What this means for aviation, defense, and the future of autonomous systems This is a deep dive into a fast-moving frontier where quantum meets real-world deployment, and it’s happening faster than almost anyone expected. ⸻ Guest: • Michael Biercuk, Founder & CEO, Q-CTRL • Company: Q-CTRL • Website: https://q-ctrl.com ⸻ 👉 Subscribe for more conversations on AI, quantum tech, and the future of innovation: https://techfirst.substack.com ⸻ ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Quantum Navigation vs Quantum Computing 0:34 Introduction to Michael Biercuk & Q-CTRL 1:12 What Is Quantum Navigation? 2:00 How Quantum Sensors Enable Navigation 2:52 Magnetometers vs Gravimeters Explained 3:28 Do You Need to Pre-Map the Earth? 4:18 Earth’s Magnetic Field & Why Maps Stay Accurate 5:18 GPS Spoofing & Why Quantum Nav Matters 6:00 Accuracy: 100x Better Than GPS Alternatives 7:00 Why Multi-Mode Navigation Is the Future 7:42 Limits of Star Cameras & Visual Navigation 8:38 The Vibration Problem in Quantum Systems 9:30 How Software Replaces Hardware Stabilization 10:28 System Size: From Sensor to Loaf of Bread 11:15 Cost, Use Cases & Drone Deployment 12:00 First Sales & Commercial Rollout 12:45 Market Size: Aviation & Drone Opportunity 13:20 Final Thoughts on Quantum Sensing 13:45 Speed of Innovation & Closingr

    14 min

  8. 7 Apr

    Are AI agents the new apps?

    Are AI agents really the future of software — or just the latest wave of hype? In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier sits down with Don Murray, CEO of Safe Software, to break down what’s actually happening with “agentic AI.” From AI-washing and “agent-washing” to real-world use cases in coding, automation, and enterprise software, this conversation cuts through the noise. They explore how AI agents differ from traditional apps, why intent-based software is emerging, and how developers are already shipping faster with AI writing code. But it’s not all upside — there are real risks, from security vulnerabilities to the possibility of AI-driven mistakes at massive scale. You’ll also hear: • Why “agentic AI” might just be a rebrand of automation • How AI is changing software development (and junior dev roles) • The surprising productivity boost for senior engineers • Why AI could make companies faster — and more fragile • The rise of “good enough” content and the risk of mediocrity • How enterprises are (and aren’t) keeping up Plus: what happens when AI starts building itself — and whether we’re heading toward a breaking point. ⸻ This episode is sponsored by Apprentice: did you think AI was only for digital work? Nope ... AI-native manufacturing is here. This month's sponsor is Apprentice, which offers the first AI Agent built from the ground up for agentic manufacturing. Connects to all your systems, monitors everything, automates all your processes ... but keeps a human in the loop. Check it out at apprentice.io. ⸻ 👤 Guest Don Murray CEO & Founder, Safe Software 🌐 https://www.safe.com 00:00 AI washing and the agent hype 00:02 What actually counts as an agent? 00:03 Sponsor: Apprentice and agentic manufacturing 00:03 New software architecture: intent-driven systems 00:05 Are big legacy companies like Apple at risk? 00:07 Day one vs. day two companies 00:08 How AI changes software development 00:09 Why junior devs struggle with AI-generated code 00:10 Consumer benefits of agentic software 00:11 Does AI save time or just make us busier? 00:12 The downside: creativity, security, and mediocrity 00:14 Why AI makes it easier to be average 00:15 AI as an assistant and the blank-page problem 00:16 AI removes excuses for building new products 00:17 Can companies be rebuilt faster than bought? 00:18 AI writing AI code 00:19 Why developers are moving to Claude and Gemini 00:20 Shipping faster vs. overwhelming customers 00:21 Why every app may need an agent 00:22 Talking to databases instead of learning SQL 00:23 The risk of AI breaking companies fast 00:24 Is there an AI bubble? 00:25 Data centers, power, and water constraints 00:26 AI’s upside in healthcare 00:27 Using AI for legal documents and expert knowledge 00:28 Final thoughts on agentic AI and AI-ready data

    29 min
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