Episode Details

What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond the screen and into the factory? In this episode of TechVibe, host Jonathan Kersting from the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Livia Rice, Senior Director of Communications at the ARM Institute, to explore "Physical AI" — AI-enabled robotics that are reshaping how things get made.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the ARM Institute is a national organization dedicated to strengthening U.S. manufacturing through robotics innovation and workforce development. Livia breaks down how Physical AI differs from generative AI, why it's transforming factory floors across the country, and what it means for the future of work.

Topics include:

• What Physical AI actually is (and why it's not ChatGPT) • How AI-powered robots handle the "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks

• Why Pittsburgh remains at the center of America's manufacturing resurgence • How workers are transitioning from manual roles to robotics technician careers

• The skills matcher at RoboticsCareer.org that's connecting people to manufacturing jobs

• Real-world examples from Pittsburgh companies like Journey Robotics

If you care about Pittsburgh's technology ecosystem, the future of manufacturing, or how AI and robotics are creating — not eliminating — jobs, hit PLAY!

The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore the region's technology and innovation ecosystem.