In this episode:
Where automation ends and AI begins
Why confusing the two builds systems that crack under pressure
The Walmart RPA story and what it teaches about brittleness
How humanoid robots change the economics of manufacturing
Digital twins, open APIs, and building for adaptability
Safety in shared human-robot workspaces
What students and leaders should be developing right now
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction and David's background
1:52 50 years of automation and technology convergences
4:56 What should people be studying and building toward
9:22 Automation vs AI, where each one actually helps
14:24 The danger of applying AI to solved problems
17:49 The Walmart RPA story
19:26 Learning curves and real-world code quality
23:00 Humanoid robots and the economics of manufacturing
26:17 Digital twins, open APIs, and adaptability
28:53 Safety in collaborative human-robot environments
33:04 Takeaways
This week's takeaways:
Stay optimistic, stay connected, and participate in the change. Don't be overrun by it.
Automation works brilliantly within its designed boundaries. But unprecedented events expose its fragility in ways we don't always anticipate.
The shift toward flexible, adaptable robots means the environment no longer has to be built around the machine. The machine adjusts to the environment instead.
About David Kilzer: David Kilzer is a TEDx speaker and founding principal at Strategic Transformation Advisors, a firm built to help companies navigate the intersection of AI and humanoid robotics. He brings 50 years of hands-on experience deploying automation across manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain operations around the world. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Connect with the show Website: definitelymaybeagile.com Feedback: feedback@definitelymaybeagile.com
Definitely Maybe Agile is hosted by Peter Maddison and Dave Sharrock. Every episode explores the art and science of digital, agile, and DevOps at scale.