Why AI Is Still Blind to the Physical World and How Flexible Chips Could Change Everything
Tech Talks Daily · 2026-05-17 · 21 min
Episode notes
What if the biggest limitation holding AI back isn't the model, the data center, or the algorithm, but the fact that most physical objects in the world still cannot communicate digitally? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Richard Price, CTO and co-founder of Pragmatic Semiconductor, to explore why AI systems remain "half blind" to the physical world and what happens when everyday objects finally become intelligent, connected, and verifiable data sources. Richard shared how Pragmatic Semiconductor is taking a radically different approach to chip design by creating flexible, ultra-thin semiconductors built specifically for item-level intelligence. Rather than competing directly with traditional silicon, Pragmatic is designing lightweight, low-cost electronics that can integrate directly into packaging, labels, healthcare patches, wearable devices, and products that conventional chips cannot support economically or physically. During our conversation, we unpacked why the long-promised "Internet of Everything" has remained frustratingly out of reach for so many years.
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