Live from Web Summit: how to build a genuinely useful robot

For decades, futurists have promised that robots will transform society, yet that still feels like a distant prospect. In this episode, recorded live at the “Web Summit” technology conference in Lisbon, our guests explain why a robotic revolution is closer than you think—and what they’re doing to make it a reality. Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Guests: Robert Playter, the boss of Boston Dynamics; and Tye Brady, the chief technologist at Amazon Robotics. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.