Host: While Wall Street spends billions debating chip shortages and data center power loads, the next frontier of AI is quickly leaping off screens and directly onto the factory floor from humanoid robots on assembly lines to workloads that can cut software development overhead by 60%. The race for corporate efficiency is becoming an existential survival test across America. And at the center of this industrial shift also sits Tesla as Elon Musk accelerates cyber cab robotoxy texting. As well as Optimist Production, the EV Pioneer confronts crushing hardware margin pressures and fierce competition from low cost Chinese EV makers. Well joining us live on set here at the New York Stock Exchange is Adrian Balfour, founder of Enorso and co-founder of Major League Rugby and owner of the Seattle Sea Wolves. Great to have you here. Thank you so much for joining me.
Adrian Balfour: Great to be here. Thank you for having me.
Host: Well, first and foremost, I do want to get your take on efficiency when it comes to Agente AI adoption across corporate America. What are you seeing?
Adrian Balfour: Um, I see there's a gap between startups and actual industrials, and startups are using AI as an augmented workforce. So essentially additional employees for the business. And within the industrials and larger corporations, they're using it as a productivity tool. And that gap remains today.
Host: And while I have you here, I do want to ask you about the robotaxi race that has happened. Across the globe. So which autonomous platform do you think is best positioned when it comes to regulatory trust as well as public roads?
Adrian Balfour: I think when you take a look at the robo taxi wars, which they are, it's all about regulation and which jurisdiction is going to open up for the possibility of robo taxis if it's a patchwork quilt of regulation. Regulation, then I think it's going to be a slow adoption. If there's a federal or a statewide mandate, then it can be a faster adoption. In terms of the technology, you have two types of technology the LiDAR technology, which is expensive and it runs over, um, you know, I mean Waymo is using Jaguars, right, so it's expensive. Uh versus you take a look at the um camera technology that Tesla is using, which is cheaper. Um, so I think there's basically the economics are going to drive adoption. Cameras cheap, um, you know, LDAR technology, expensive.
Host: Yeah. And I do want to get your perspective on humanoid robots. So beyond factory floors, what timeline are we actually looking at here?
Adrian Balfour: I think mixing humans with robots is going to take a little bit of time. I think you're probably looking at 10 to 15 years. Um, everyone has their own, their own opinion on this, but I think the, the safety factor of robots intermingling with humans, especially in your home with your kids, is gonna take some time.
Host: Yeah, and Adrian, while I have you here, I do want to get your take on the practical reality of artificial intelligence. So you run sustainable farms and also have a rugby franchise here. So where is AI actually working and where is it overpromising?
Adrian Balfour: I think if you take a look at it, it's a PhD in your pocket. Name a subject, it's got a PhD in that. Subject. So on my farm, where we have a a a large sheep farm that does merino wool, um, I use it as a vet. So I can take a picture of the sheep and the ailment, I can load it up and it can give me a diagnosis on the spot. So it essentially augments the way I work on the farm, but it's, you know, I would need a robot and that's gonna take another 15 years to get a proper AI assistant.
Host: And finally, Adrian, before I let you go, we're on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange here on Wall Street, and of course there's a lot of concern about where artificial intelligence is going, but there's a lot of financing that's happening as well. So what is your longer term outlook when it comes to this technology?
Adrian Balfour: I think this technology is going to survive and it's going to expand and it's going to go aggressive. Forward, I think the issue is with regards to how fast that happens, and I think people are spending a lot of money on data centers without any clear adoption. So that's the problem I think that's going to occur. The adoption path is not clear and a lot of money is being pushed in, and I think some of the smaller players for the data center business may go belly up or get acquired.
Host: And of course we have about less than 60 seconds here. So when it comes to artificial intelligence, there is an ecosystem here. So where are the opportunities and what are you not so bullish about?
Adrian Balfour: I think the smaller companies that are doing, take a look at Muse with an Argentica system. I think there are smaller. Companies out there that have better offerings, and I think those companies as they go through B&C funding will get acquired. I think that's the acquisition of small companies is the opportunity.
Host: Adrian, I appreciate your time. Thank you so much for joining us this morning and thank you so much for sharing your insights as well as all of your perspectives.
Adrian Balfour: Thanks for having me. Thank you so much.
