# AI: chipset bans and keeping humans in the loop

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2022-09-02
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop

## Summary

Michael Cohen, founder and CEO of Spark AI, explains how his company’s human-in-the-loop API resolves edge cases for robotics systems, specifically detailing a partnership with John Deere for autonomous tractors and applications in logistics. The hosts discuss the US government's export restrictions on AI chipsets from NVIDIA and AMD to China, analyzing the impact on robotics training and development. Cohen argues that while AI can reach 95% reliability, the final 5% requires human intervention to ensure commercial viability and safety, a gap Spark AI fills by providing real-time decision support.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=7) Introduction and James Webb Telescope News
- [2:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=141) US Chipset Bans on China: AMD and NVIDIA
- [11:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=683) Waymo Driverless Robotaxis in Phoenix
- [14:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=857) Record Robot Sales in North America
- [19:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=1140) Michael Cohen and Spark AI Overview
- [26:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=1590) Edge Cases: Zook's and Pedestrian Confusion
- [30:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=1816) Spark AI Workflow and Mission Specialists
- [46:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=2771) John Deere Partnership and Autonomous Tractors
- [49:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=2964) Logistics Use Case: Mixed Skew Depalletizing
- [55:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-02-ai-chipset-bans-and-keeping-humans-in-the-loop#t=3333) Build vs. Buy: Business Model and Value Prop

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Spark AI (company)
- John Deere (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- AMD (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Zook's (company)
- Uber (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Google (company)
- Plus (company)
- Pony AI (company)
- Neuro (company)
- Toyota Research Institute (company)
- OceanGate (company)
- Mass Robotics (company)
- Soft Robotics (company)
- Perceptive Automata (company)

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## Citing this page

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