Brett Adcock - Shawn Ryan’s First Interview with a Robot | SRS #292

In this talk

1. 2:58

   Robot safety at home

   Asked how to prevent errors from harming people, Adcock described separate protections for the robot’s physical hardware and its decisions in a home. He said Figure robots had spent time in his house while monitored, but he was not yet comfortable leaving one unsupervised with his children. Household hazards such as boiling water and candles illustrate how much work remains.

2. 8:45

   A future of delegated work

   Adcock argued that AI is still at an early stage and could automate tasks in both physical and digital settings. He wants AI to handle errands and routine work, while humanoids take on jobs such as laundry and dishes. He also outlined his earlier work at Vettery and Archer Aviation, including the challenges of developing electric aircraft and obtaining FAA certification.

3. 52:42

   Building and deploying humanoids

   Adcock said Figure is building general-purpose electric robots because people have shaped homes and workplaces around the human body. He described the Figure 3 as a 135-pound robot with about 40 joints, tactile sensors in its fingertips, and neural networks controlling its movements. Figure has tested robots at BMW for six months of daily shifts and is preparing commercial deployments; Adcock said its current production line makes about one robot every 90 minutes.

4. 1:18:00

   From workplaces to homes

   Adcock said robots will need memory and permission controls so they can recognize people and limit what visitors or children can ask them to do. He expects commercial settings to come first because tasks there are more predictable than in homes, where layouts, appliances, and preferences vary. For home use, he imagines a robot learning a household’s routines by being shown around, while emphasizing that safety and reliability remain major challenges.

5. 2:11:28

   School security, Hark, and the risks of AI

   Adcock described Cover, a company developing terahertz radar to detect concealed weapons at schools and other venues, with plans for a school beta test after further system development. He also outlined Hark, his AI lab working on personal AI and new device interfaces. On risks, he acknowledged that robots could cause harm as they scale, while arguing that careful development could bring broad benefits. His advice to founders was to start building, choose ambitious problems, and commit to work they care about.