Episode 136 of Tech Trends, Ramia Lloyd and Benjamin Moses welcome Nikki Gonzales (Automation Ladies, Wintec HMI) and Travis Egan (AMT) for a fast-paced chat on AI, digital twins, and leadership in modern manufacturing. Plus, a sneak peek at what's ahead at Hexagon Live Global 2025.

Episode 134: Steve and Ben share their observations, insights, and takeaways from ProMat2025. Stephen provides a testbed update and a realization that robot programming is easy… until you have to program the robot to physically interact with another thing. Ben shines a light on the disconnect between executives and AI versus regular staff and AI. Steve closes with good news: US manufacturing output accelerated in February.

Episode 133: Elissa dives straight in with 3D printing 4D materials. The team voices their loathing of daylight savings. Steve wonders how it’s 2025 and hot dogs are still not the appropriate length with respect to the buns. Ben shares his excitement for machine/robot programming becoming literally more hands-on. Steve closes with actual AI in gaming.

Episode 132: The Tech Friends open with older movies they’d like to see remade with some of the same actors and producers. Steve then goes on a long tangent waxing poetic about cars while desperately trying to relate it back to manufacturing technology… and failing. Elissa reports on the implementation of AI in 911 dispatch. Ben closes with somehow employing additive manufacturing for subtractive toolpath optimization.

Episode 131: Ben and Steve report back on their trip to SHOT Show 2025. Ben hard transitions to asking about Steve’s first experience with Pilates. Elissa announces that the AMT Tech Trends podcast has been placed as the #14 podcast in the manufacturing industry. Steve takes a stab at the difference between generative versus agentic AI. Elissa says the Army is getting into barracks 3D printing. Benjamin closes with more humanoid robots. Like a lot.

Episode 130: Steve kicks things off, blabbing about headphones and the latest audiophile nonsense to come out of CES, then goes on about some testbed developments. Ben talks about OpenAI’s humanoid robotics triggering Stephen sparking a discussion about the overhype of humanoids and how we should really be looking at exoskeletons. Elissa closes us out with a call for accountability.

Episode 129: Steve shares some updates with the testbed’s vision system. The Tech Friends discuss how to handle the snow and their 2025 goals. Elissa reports Italy’s efforts in 3D printing using marble waste. Stephen is sad about Crucible going out of business. Benjamin is excited about Nvidia’s latest evolutionary silicon.

Episode 128: The Tech Friends discuss their favorite holiday movies and shows. Elissa is hopeful for the future of space travel… once heat shields are squared away. Benjamin reports on video generation powered by AI LLMs. Stephen raises concerns over excessive energy consumption by AI.

Episode 127: Ben and Steve both have some interesting testbed updates and conclude that having a solid in-house IT team on hand is vital for implementing new OT (operational technology) systems. The tech friends lighten things up by reflecting on their Thanksgiving and what they did with their leftovers. Afterward, Benjamin talks about interleaved hybrid manufacturing processes and beam shaping. Stephen closes with China’s export ban of superhard materials to the US.

Episode 126: Steve immediately kicks it off with a listicle regarding the ten most disruptive 3D printers in history. The tech friends then discuss sandwiches and augmented reality glasses. Steve also reports that Georgia Tech has a replica of the AMT testbed to co-develop automation solutions with/for AMT. Benjamin shares that the Perplexity CEO offers to replace the NYTs striking workers with AI. Elissa closes with Apple’s offer of $1M to whoever can hack them.