In Episode 189 of The Robot Report Podcast, co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre interview Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics.
In this podcast, Ali Kashani, CEO of Serve Robotics Inc., discusses the Redwood City, Calif.-based company‘s impressive growth, including a 700% revenue increase. He also talks about plans to scale their fleet of delivery robots significantly.
Kashani shares insights on Serve Robotics’ partnerships, particularly with Magna for manufacturing and Uber for delivery services, and the challenges of expanding into new markets like Miami.
The discussion also covers the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing robot capabilities, the importance of adapting workflows for restaurant partners, and the future of last-mile delivery. Kashani reflects on the journey from startup to public company and the myriad possibilities for robotics in various sectors.
Show timeline
- 8:40 – Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the news
- 23:48 – Mike and Gene interview Serve Robotics’ Ali Kashani
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News of the week
The Bot Company, led by Kyle Vogt, brings in another $150M
The Bot Company — led by former Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt — has raised $150 million in new funding, according to Reuters. While the company has yet to reveal a service robot prototype, this latest funding puts its valuation at $2 billion. It aims to create at-home robots that assist individuals with daily tasks, such as household chores
Vogt is no stranger to technical and business challenges. He started Cruise in 2013 with Dan Kan. General Motors acquired Cruise for $1 billion in 2016. In November 2023, Vogt left Cruise, saying his plans include spending time with family and “exploring new ideas.”
Zoox issues voluntary software recall for 258 vehicles
Zoox Inc. last week filed a Part 573 Safety Recall Report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company issued this voluntary safety recall in response to two incidents in which its vehicles braked unexpectedly and were rear-ended by motorcycles.
The test vehicles involved had human safety drivers. No Zoox vehicles currently on the road use the recalled software.
Zoox isn’t the first autonomous vehicle developer to struggle with “phantom braking,” or braking for seemingly no reason at unexpected times. A study from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands found that this problem can be a result of automated decision-making. This is typically caused by the vehicle’s sensors or algorithms misinterpreting the situation.
China to invest $137B in robotics and high-tech, reports IFR
China’s National Development and Reform Commission has announced plans for a state-backed venture capital fund focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, and innovation. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the commission expects the long-term fund to attract nearly 1 trillion yuan ($137.8 billion) in capital from local governments and the private sector over 20 years.
This initiative aims to continue China’s technology-driven success in manufacturing, noted the IFR. In 10 years, the country‘s global share of industrial robot installations has risen from around one-fifth to more than half of the world’s total demand, it said.
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