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AI Beyond Chatbots: 3 Experts on Edge, Robotics, and Real Impact
This special CES 2026 episode brings together Pete Bernard (EDGE AI FOUNDATION), Pankaj Kedia (2468 Ventures), and Hank Crawford (Blue Collar Robotics) to explore how AI is moving from theory into everyday use. From cameraless sensing to edge-powered devices that listen, measure, and respond in real time, it’s clear that AI is becoming embedded in our everyday lives. Pete, Pankaj, and Hank all share one common goal: to have AI to solve real problems and simplify life at scale. For Pete, that means building collaborative edge AI ecosystems that work reliably outside the cloud. For Pankaj, it’s unlocking applied AI that delivers real ROI in the healthcare, education, and automotive industries. And for Hank, it’s rethinking grocery shopping by using virtually controlled robotics to tackle labor shortages without replacing people. The future of AI isn’t abstract or far off, it’s already at work in the real world.
🎧 Episode Highlights
● [01:15] Why Edge AI is bigger than TinyML and how physical, generative, and agentic AI are converging
● [04:36] Cameraless AI: using signals and radio waves to sense environments without cameras
● [16:52] Why AI shouldn’t just match human performance but exceed it in safety-critical systems like self-driving and robotics
● [27:47] Applied AI as the real ROI driver across healthcare, education, and mobility
●[39:38] How human-in-the-loop robotics for grocery fulfillment provides global labor opportunities
🔑 Key Takeaways:
● The most impactful AI isn’t happening in massive data centers, it’s happening where systems can sense, interpret, and act in real time. From cameraless perception to signal-based sensing, edge AI enables intelligence in environments where latency, privacy, and connectivity matter most.
● AI must outperform humans in safety-critical systems to matter. Matching human performance isn’t enough when lives, health, or infrastructure are at stake. Whether in autonomous driving, healthcare triage, or robotics, the bar for AI is being meaningfully safer, more consistent, and more reliable than human decision-making.
● The most scalable AI systems don’t replace people, they amplify them. Human-in-the-loop robotics and applied AI models solve labor shortages, unlock global talent, and improve productivity while preserving human judgment, accountability, and trust.
👤 Guest Spotlight:
Pete Bernard
Pete Bernard is Executive Director of the EDGE AI FOUNDATION, advancing the development and adoption of edge AI across industries. With a background in embedded systems and machine learning, he focuses on building collaborative ecosystems that bring physical, generative, and agentic AI out of the cloud and into real-world deployment. He is known for translating complex technical shifts into practical frameworks that enable reliable, scalable AI at the edge.
Pankaj Kedia
Pankaj Kedia is Managing Partner at 2468 Ventures, investing in AI, robotics, autonomy, and applied technology. He backs companies delivering measurable ROI across healthcare, education, mobility, and industrial sectors, with a focus on systems that outperform humans in safety-critical and high-impact environments.
Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford is Founder of Blue Collar Robotics, developing human-in-the-loop robotic systems to address labor shortages. His work centers on remotely operated, task-specific robots that augment workers, beginning with grocery fulfillment and expanding into broader physical industries.
Connect with Pete:
Pete Bernard
Connect with Pankaj:
Pankaj Kedia
Connect with Hank:
Hank Crawford
Connect with Chris:
Chris Howard
Explore past episodes: ftf.show
Learn about Softeq: softeq.com
Stay inspired and ahead of the curve by subscribing to Forging the Future. Share your thoughts on this episode with the hashtag #ForgingTheFuture or tag us online!
View all episodes
By Chris HowardThis special CES 2026 episode brings together Pete Bernard (EDGE AI FOUNDATION), Pankaj Kedia (2468 Ventures), and Hank Crawford (Blue Collar Robotics) to explore how AI is moving from theory into everyday use. From cameraless sensing to edge-powered devices that listen, measure, and respond in real time, it’s clear that AI is becoming embedded in our everyday lives. Pete, Pankaj, and Hank all share one common goal: to have AI to solve real problems and simplify life at scale. For Pete, that means building collaborative edge AI ecosystems that work reliably outside the cloud. For Pankaj, it’s unlocking applied AI that delivers real ROI in the healthcare, education, and automotive industries. And for Hank, it’s rethinking grocery shopping by using virtually controlled robotics to tackle labor shortages without replacing people. The future of AI isn’t abstract or far off, it’s already at work in the real world.
🎧 Episode Highlights
● [01:15] Why Edge AI is bigger than TinyML and how physical, generative, and agentic AI are converging
● [04:36] Cameraless AI: using signals and radio waves to sense environments without cameras
● [16:52] Why AI shouldn’t just match human performance but exceed it in safety-critical systems like self-driving and robotics
● [27:47] Applied AI as the real ROI driver across healthcare, education, and mobility
●[39:38] How human-in-the-loop robotics for grocery fulfillment provides global labor opportunities
🔑 Key Takeaways:
● The most impactful AI isn’t happening in massive data centers, it’s happening where systems can sense, interpret, and act in real time. From cameraless perception to signal-based sensing, edge AI enables intelligence in environments where latency, privacy, and connectivity matter most.
● AI must outperform humans in safety-critical systems to matter. Matching human performance isn’t enough when lives, health, or infrastructure are at stake. Whether in autonomous driving, healthcare triage, or robotics, the bar for AI is being meaningfully safer, more consistent, and more reliable than human decision-making.
● The most scalable AI systems don’t replace people, they amplify them. Human-in-the-loop robotics and applied AI models solve labor shortages, unlock global talent, and improve productivity while preserving human judgment, accountability, and trust.
👤 Guest Spotlight:
Pete Bernard
Pete Bernard is Executive Director of the EDGE AI FOUNDATION, advancing the development and adoption of edge AI across industries. With a background in embedded systems and machine learning, he focuses on building collaborative ecosystems that bring physical, generative, and agentic AI out of the cloud and into real-world deployment. He is known for translating complex technical shifts into practical frameworks that enable reliable, scalable AI at the edge.
Pankaj Kedia
Pankaj Kedia is Managing Partner at 2468 Ventures, investing in AI, robotics, autonomy, and applied technology. He backs companies delivering measurable ROI across healthcare, education, mobility, and industrial sectors, with a focus on systems that outperform humans in safety-critical and high-impact environments.
Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford is Founder of Blue Collar Robotics, developing human-in-the-loop robotic systems to address labor shortages. His work centers on remotely operated, task-specific robots that augment workers, beginning with grocery fulfillment and expanding into broader physical industries.
Connect with Pete:
Pete Bernard
Connect with Pankaj:
Pankaj Kedia
Connect with Hank:
Hank Crawford
Connect with Chris:
Chris Howard
Explore past episodes: ftf.show
Learn about Softeq: softeq.com
Stay inspired and ahead of the curve by subscribing to Forging the Future. Share your thoughts on this episode with the hashtag #ForgingTheFuture or tag us online!