What if AI didn’t just think, but also moved, learned and worked alongside us?

In this episode of Tech Inspired, Yulia Sandamirskaya joins Priska Burkard to unpack the next frontier of innovation: Physical AI and cognitive robotics.

Essentially it is about what happens when intelligence leaves the screen – and enters the real world.

Yulia has spent her career building at the intersection of physics, neuroscience, and AI. Today, she leads cutting-edge work in cognitive computing – developing robots that don’t just execute tasks, but adapt, decide and collaborate with humans.

And here’s where it gets real:

👉 Physical AI isn’t just harder – it’s a whole different game.

👉 Timing, safety, energy, and real-world complexity matter.

👉 And the smallest overlooked detail? It can break the entire system.

In this conversation, we explore what it truly takes to build robots that work with us – not around us:

– Why moving from digital AI to physical AI changes everything

– What makes “cognitive robots” fundamentally different from traditional automation

– The hidden challenges slowing down robotics (hint: it’s not just the tech)

– How real-world environments – from care homes to logistics – reshape innovation

– Why the future of robotics depends on understanding people just as much as machines

💡 And one powerful reality check:

The future won’t be built in labs alone, it will be shaped where technology meets real human needs.

This episode is for the curious minds, the builders, and anyone wondering what happens when AI steps into the physical world – and what it will mean for how we live, work, and care for each other.

🎧 Tune in now and explore how robotics is evolving from automation to true collaboration.

🔗 Connect with Yulia Sandamirskaya and follow her work.