In this episode of The Innovators Playbook, host Seth Narayanan sits down with Chris Mallinson, Director of Software Engineering at Nanotronics, to explore the high-stakes world where robotics, AI, and precision manufacturing converge.

Chris shares how his teams build cutting-edge inspection tools for the semiconductor industry, the challenges of integrating hardware and software, and why one small mistake can cost up to $30,000.

You’ll hear about:

• The shift from monolithic systems to modular, scalable software
• How AI is used (and avoided) in robotics to balance innovation and risk
• Why hardware constraints still slow down automation
• Where the next breakthroughs in semiconductor inspection may come from
• Advice for students and engineers looking to break into robotics

Whether you’re in tech, manufacturing, or just curious about the future of automation, this conversation offers rare insight into one of the most advanced engineering fields today.