Abstract: Advances in foundation AI models, robotics, and large-scale connectivity are reshaping how intelligence operates in the physical world. This talk focuses on the intersection of these capabilities towards more adaptive and interactive human–robot–AI teams that combine human judgment, embodied action, and machine intelligence. We discuss emerging approaches to physical AI, multimodal perception and understanding, and hybrid cloud- and edge-connected AI-enabled robotic systems. We highlight system-level research challenges that will help to further unlock the opportunity for these collaborative frontier teams.
Bio: Dr. Timothy Chung joined Microsoft as General Manager for Autonomy and Robotics within the Strategic Missions and Technologies division, which focuses on next-generation technology solutions for government and commercial applications. Prior to joining Microsoft, Dr. Chung served as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office, where he led the OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics program and the DARPA Subterranean (SubT) Challenge. Previously, Dr. Chung served as an Assistant Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and Director of the Advanced Robotic Systems Engineering Laboratory (ARSENL). Dr. Chung holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University. He also earned Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
