In this episode, Microsoft Developer’s John Maeda interviews Tim Chung to discuss the transformation of robotics through generative AI, offering expertise and hands-on demos that showcase Microsoft’s vision for AI-powered robots as practical teammates.

Inside the Future of AI‑Powered Robotics: Cozy AI Kitchen with Tim Chung

In this Cozy AI Kitchen episode, host John Maeda welcomes Tim Chung, General Manager of Autonomy and Robotics at Microsoft, for a deep dive into the intersection of AI and robotics.

Key Topics

• Generative AI & Robotics: Explore how AI models are being used to move robotics beyond tightly scripted behaviors toward dynamic, real-world autonomy and adaptation.
• Action Models & Tokens: Learn how action tokens are applied to bridge natural language prompts and actionable robot behaviors, addressing randomness and unpredictability in real environments.
• Physical Intelligence: Understand the evolution of robots from automata to agents equipped with physical intelligence, capable of generalizing and acting independently.
• Microsoft Teams Integration: See how robots can connect with Microsoft Teams, moving toward collaborative roles as digital teammates.
• Hands-On Demos: The Rainbow Robot—an LED-powered demonstrator—shows off new concepts in robot autonomy, movement, and human-friendly design.
• Teammate Robots: Discuss the increasing role of robots as coworkers in practical settings, leveraging AI to enable adaptability and collaboration.

Practical Takeaways

• Aspiring Roboticists: Advice for new entrants in the robotics field and how to leverage Microsoft’s AI platforms and learning tools.
• AI Tools & Platforms: Links to Azure AI and Microsoft Learn for further exploration and experimentation.

Resources

• Azure Free Trial
• Microsoft Learn
• AI Tools for Creators
• Cozy AI Kitchen Playlist

Speakers

• Tim Chung (LinkedIn), GM, Autonomy and Robotics, Microsoft
• John Maeda (LinkedIn), VP of Design and Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft

This episode provides an engaging, practical primer for developers, engineers, and anyone interested in how AI is being actively integrated into physical robots and enterprise collaboration environments.