# 539: My Ai Powered Ergonomic Chair

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2026-09-25
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the decline of physical controls in modern electronics, citing the Slate Truck's analog design and the annoyance of touchscreens in cars. They debate the impact of AI on maker education, with Diresta warning that bypassing learning CAD and coding creates long-term skill gaps, while Clagett argues for maintaining deep tool mastery. Picciuto shares his experience building 11 steel boxes for Carhartt under a tight deadline and reflects on how AI tools like auto-generated CNC paths bypass the learning of feeds and speeds.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=1) Introduction: Music tastes and generational gaps
- [10:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=623) The decline of physical knobs and the Slate Truck
- [16:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=1017) AI-powered chairs and the irrelevance of AI
- [17:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=1049) AI bypassing learning in CAD and programming
- [25:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=1542) Facebook groups and the reality of tool ownership
- [34:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=2041) David Picciuto's Carhartt steel box rush
- [46:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=2802) Spontaneous decisions and Home Depot Pro cards
- [58:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair#t=3520) Spontaneous adventures and the Old Rhineback Aerodrome

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Slate Truck (product)
- Carhartt (company)
- Fusion (tool)
- Old Rhineback Aerodrome (other)
- George Nakashima (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Walmart Greeter of Electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics) (The Amp Hour)
- [STL318: Back to School](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-06-14-stl318-back-to-school) (Shop Talk Live)
- [The Future of PCB Design Education: HaSofu Founder Kirsch Mackey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-05-21-the-future-of-pcb-design-education-hasofu-founder-kirsch-mackey) (OnTrack)
- [STL273: Shaper Origin—Then and Now](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-08-26-stl273-shaper-origin-then-and-now) (Shop Talk Live)
- [Matt Perez | Being Able to Explain What You’re Doing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-05-13-matt-perez-being-able-to-explain-what-youre-doing) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Making It.