Industries

September 22, 2025

Key insights: Viam's robotics panel with UFactory and J.P. Morgan

Viam hosted industry leaders for a panel discussion on the evolving robotics landscape. The conversation explored how recent advances in accessible hardware, AI, and software platforms will transform the sector.

Engineers, founders, and investors gathered at the Viam HQ for a panel featuring industry leaders from Viam, UFactory, and J.P. Morgan.

Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:

Building together beats building alone in robotics

One of the biggest challenges in robotics is that everyone is rebuilding the same foundational software from scratch. As Edouard explained during the panel, "Everyone seems to be trying to rebuild from scratch the same solutions in different contexts. Very few software engineers want to solve this problem, and everyone trying to rebuild the same thing feels like a waste."

This infrastructure gap creates unnecessary barriers for founders who should be focused on solving real-world problems, not wrestling with low-level hardware integration. The solution lies in a flexible platform that allows for:

• Universal compatibility: Deploy code that works regardless of specific hardware
• Modular component registry: Access pre-built modules for common robotics functions without custom development
• Rapid prototyping: Test ideas quickly without rebuilding foundational technology

When startups can access robust, pre-built infrastructure like Viam, they can focus their energy on innovation and customer value rather than reinventing foundational technology.

Hardware accessibility is democratizing robotics for startups

The cost barrier that once kept robotics limited to large corporations is shrinking. Sam Chau highlighted this shift, noting that while traditional industrial arms cost $35,000-$40,000 plus service contracts, UFactory's xArm6 delivers comparable specs for $10,000.

This dramatic cost reduction is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs:

• Lower barriers to entry: Startups can afford to experiment and iterate
• Reduced risk: Lower upfront investment makes failure less catastrophic

The democratization of hardware means robotics solutions are no longer limited to companies with massive R&D budgets.

The UFactory team engaged the attendees with an interactive demo, allowing them to operate one of their arms.

AI is accelerating, making robotics more intuitive and practical

The integration of AI is transforming how robots interact with the physical world. Rather than requiring extensive programming for every scenario, AI enables robots to perceive, understand, and adapt to their environment.

Modern AI capabilities are making robotics more practical for real-world applications:

• Intelligent perception: Ability to analyze scenes and respond to complex instructions
• Adaptive behavior: Systems that adjust to changing conditions without reprogramming

This shift from rigid, pre-programmed systems to intelligent, adaptive robots opens up entirely new categories of applications that were previously impossible or prohibitively expensive to implement.

The Viam team demonstrated Viam's software platform working with UFactory arms with an engaging water-pouring robot.

Breakthrough innovation begins with solving practical problems

Many of today’s robotics startups that are really succeeding are solving straightforward, practical problems. Samuel shared examples of customer applications that deliver real business value.

The most successful robotics startups follow a clear pattern:

• Start with contained, well-defined problems: Avoid trying to solve everything at once
• Focus on immediate business value: Choose applications with clear ROI
• Build on proven technology: Use reliable components rather than inventing from scratch
• Plan for iteration: Design systems that can evolve as needs change

As Edouard noted, even revolutionary technologies like the telephone started with simple use cases, enabling communication between ground crews and workers on skyscrapers. The ambitious vision came later, built on a foundation of practical success.

Open platforms are accelerating growth in robotics

The robotics industry is moving toward an ecosystem approach where open platforms enable rapid innovation. Rather than building everything from scratch, successful companies are focusing on their core value proposition while leveraging shared infrastructure and components.

This platform approach accelerates innovation across the entire robotics ecosystem. When startups can access reliable, well-documented tools for hardware integration, computer vision, and AI deployment, they can focus their resources on solving customer problems rather than rebuilding foundational technology.