# Nvidia veteran Amulya Vishwanath backs physical AI beyond robots

Digest AI · Business & Funding · published 2026-10-16T16:30:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-ex-vp-says-robotics-is-in-its-lego-era-not-chatgpt-moment

## Summary

Amulya Vishwanath, who spent seven years leading product marketing for NVIDIA’s robotics platforms, has launched Techable VC to invest in what she calls “physical AI.”  The firm targets early‑stage companies in robotics, materials science and life sciences, arguing that the field is still in a “Lego era” where basic components such as actuators, hands and safety standards are being rebuilt.  Vishwanath pushes back against the view that a single foundation model will trigger a ChatGPT‑like breakthrough for robotics, a claim made by General Intuition CEO Pim de Witte earlier this year.

In a TechCrunch Equity podcast interview, she explains that physical AI includes molecules, materials, medicines and factory machines, not just robots.  She cites concrete problems like family‑run factories struggling to find workers and surgeons facing burnout as prime opportunities.  Vishwanath also notes that her Nvidia background gives her a network for due diligence and customer introductions, and she compares the competitive edges of the United States and China, adding that humanoid robots should have uses beyond dancing.

## Key points

- Amulya Vishwanath, ex‑Nvidia robotics product marketing lead, founded Techable VC to fund physical AI in robotics, materials and life sciences.
- She describes robotics as in a “Lego era” and doubts a single foundation model will cause a ChatGPT‑style breakthrough.
- Vishwanath highlights opportunities such as worker‑short family factories and surgeon burnout, and notes US‑China competitive edges.

## Why it matters

The investment focus expands AI into physical domains, shaping future automation in manufacturing, biotech and hardware, and influencing how AI research translates to real‑world products.

## Sources

1. [Physical AI is more than robots, says the Nvidia veteran now investing in it](https://techcrunch.com/podcast/physical-ai-is-more-than-robots-says-the-nvidia-veteran-now-investing-in-it) (TechCrunch AI, 2026-10-16)
2. [A Nvidia insider-turned-VC on why robotics hasn’t hit its ChatGPT moment, yet](https://techcrunch.com/video/a-nvidia-insider-turned-vc-on-why-robotics-hasnt-hit-its-chatgpt-moment-yet) (TechCrunch AI, 2026-10-16)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Nvidia veteran Amulya Vishwanath backs physical AI beyond robots", 16 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-ex-vp-says-robotics-is-in-its-lego-era-not-chatgpt-moment

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