When AI moves from the cloud to the factory floor, the stakes change completely. A chatbot that hallucinates is annoying; a robot that hallucinates is dangerous. In this episode, Burkhard Boeckem, CTO of Hexagon AB, examines what it actually takes to build AI systems that operate in the physical world, where guessing isn't an option and failure has real consequences.
The conversation covers:
Physical AI fundamentals: What changes when AI operates with safety, cost, and reliability constraints, and how you design systems that can't afford to guessRobotics reality check: Industrial robots, mobile robots, and humanoids: where each delivers value today versus marketing hypeThe humanoid question: With Tesla and others racing to build humanoid robots, is this a convergent insight or a bubbleDigital twins: Why they're essential for autonomy, how they differ from traditional industrial applications, and why organizational ambiguity can cause failuresLeadership implications: What boards misunderstand about robotics investments, responsible deployment, and the honest conversation about workforce impactWhether you're evaluating a robotics investment or trying to separate signal from noise in the physical AI space, this is a reality check for leaders making decisions with real capital at stake.
Key TakeawaysDigital Twins Are the Non-Negotiable Foundation for Physical AIRobots operating in the real world require dimensionally accurate digital replicas of their environments to train safely and perform reliably. Without this "ground truth," organizations fund perpetual pilots rather than deployable systems. Boards must treat digital twin readiness as a prerequisite before approving robotics investments.
Functional safety, rather than flashy demonstrations, will shape the robotics landscape of 2026 and beyond.The bar for physical AI is far higher than for chatbots because failures can cause injury, not just inconvenience. Leaders should prioritize uptime, predictability, and fail-safe design over impressive locomotion or fluid movements. The real technical challenge lies in ensuring robots recognize when they lack information and stop rather than proceed into dangerous situations.
Enterprise readiness, rather than technology, remains the primary obstacle to deploying physical AI.The technology for humanoid robots has advanced rapidly, but most organizations lack the regulatory clarity, maintenance infrastructure, and workflow integration needed to deploy fleets alongside human workers. Companies planning robotics investments must address safety engineering, service requirements, and human-robot collaboration protocols before they scale beyond isolated lab environments.
Episode ParticipantsBurkhard Böckem was named Hexagon’s chief technology officer in 2020 after serving as CTO of Hexagon Geosystems since 2015. In the latter role, he oversaw technology, innovation and product development for all of the Geosystems business units. He began his career in 2001, when he joined Leica Geosystems. As CTO of Hexagon, Böckem drives the innovation and continued development of Hexagon’s autonomous technology vision. He holds a Master of Science in geodesy and a Ph.D. in technology.
Michael Krigsman is a globally recognized analyst, strategic advisor, and industry commentator known for his deep business transformation, innovation, and leadership expertise. He has presented at industry events worldwide and written extensively on the reasons for IT failures. His work has been referenced in the media over 1,000 times and in more than 50 books and journal articles; his commentary on technology trends and business strategy reaches a global audience.
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