Gecko Robotics CEO on AI, Energy, Scaling Up

Key Concepts:

• Structural integrity assessment
• AI and data-driven operating platform
• Robotics for infrastructure inspection
• Cantilever (software operating platform)
• Physical intelligence
• Energy efficiency and optimization
• Legacy energy sector
• CapEx reduction
• Heat rate improvement in power plants

1. Gogo Robotics: Mission and Business Model

• Mission: Diagnosing the health of the built world (dams, bridges, oil and gas refineries, etc.).
• Business Model: Provides an AI and data-driven operating platform, leveraging robots and smart sensors to assess structural health and optimize facility operations. The company sells the operating platform, not just the robots or sensors.
• Key Advantage: Unfair data advantage due to extensive experience and data collection from inspecting various facilities.
• Value Proposition: Helps facilities run with up to 20% less CapEx and operate 5-15% more efficiently.

2. Technology and Platform: Cantilever

• Cantilever: A software operating platform that integrates data from robots (briefcase-sized climbing robots, drones, walking robots) and smart sensors.
• Data Integration: Customers can integrate their own operational and IoT sensor data into Cantilever for improved decision-making.
• Empowering Workers: Cantilever enables field workers to make informed decisions by providing data-driven insights and alerts, essentially turning them into "super-powered engineers."

3. Focus on the Energy Sector

• Pittsburgh Event: The speaker will be participating in an energy and AI event in Pittsburgh, organized by Senator McCormick, with major players in the energy sector.
• AI's Impact on Energy: The speaker's message is that AI's impact on energy should be judged by its ability to create energy, not just consume it.
• Case Study: A major customer, responsible for 5% of US power, has seen a significant increase in the heat rate of their natural gas power plants after deploying Gogo Robotics' technology.
• Impact: The extrapolated impact is equivalent to adding ten gigawatts of power without building new power plants.
• Energy Constraint: Energy is identified as a constraint to AI development, and AI should be used to unlock energy potential.

4. Scaling and Future Growth

• Valuation: Gogo Robotics recently reached a $1.35 billion valuation.
• Scaling Strategy: Focus on scaling the operating platform and delivering outcomes, rather than just selling hardware.
• Target Industries: Expanding beyond oil and gas to include manufacturing facilities (steel, copper) and other "old sectors" often overlooked by Silicon Valley.
• Physical Intelligence: Gogo Robotics is positioned as a leader in "physical intelligence" for built environments, which provides a competitive advantage over software-only solutions.
• Investment: The company plans to increase investment in the hardware side to fuel growth.

5. Physical Intelligence and Competitive Advantage

• Definition: Physical intelligence refers to the ability of systems to understand and interact with the physical world.
• Importance: The speaker emphasizes the lack of physical intelligence in many industrial sectors.
• Moat: Gogo Robotics' combination of robotics and AI creates a "moat" that makes its AI solutions superior to software-only approaches.

6. Media Relations

• The speaker expresses satisfaction with the company's relationship with the media.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Gogo Robotics is focused on revolutionizing how industries manage and optimize their physical infrastructure. By combining robotics, AI, and data analytics into a comprehensive operating platform (Cantilever), the company enables significant cost savings, efficiency gains, and increased energy output. Their focus on physical intelligence and legacy industries positions them for continued growth and impact, particularly in the energy sector where they aim to unlock new energy potential through AI-driven optimization.