Sneh Vaswani Of Miko On The Future Of Robotics Over the Next Few Years
An Interview With David Leichner
To be successful in robotics, it takes a combination of technical skills and soft skills. A deep understanding of electronics and mechanics is critical. So is training in industrial design. But because the industry moves so quickly, it’s not enough to become educated in these areas once; roboticists need to have an insatiable appetite for continued education. It’s about constantly exploring “what’s next.”
With the shortage of labor, companies are now looking at how robots can replace some of the lost labor force. See here for example. The truth is that this is not really a novel idea, as companies like Amazon have been using robots for a while now. What can we expect to see in the robotics industry over the next few years? How will robots be used? What kinds of robots are being produced? To what extent can robots help address the shortage of labor? Which jobs can robots replace, and which jobs need humans? In our series called “The Future Of Robotics Over The Next Few Years” we are talking to leaders of Robotics companies, AI companies, and Hi-Tech Manufacturing companies who can address these questions and share insights from their experience. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sneh Vaswani.
Sneh Vaswani is the Co-Founder and CEO of Miko, a consumer robotics innovation lab that brings the best of AI to children around the world. A robotics trailblazer, Sneh tirelessly explores the intersections of AI and emotional intelligence as he leads a dynamic global team.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started in robotics?
I’ve been fascinated by robots for as long as I can remember. I caught the robotics “bug” at age six and made my first robot about five years later. My friends had celebrity posters on their bedroom walls, but mine were lined with images of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Dr. Kalam was an aerospace scientist who would eventually become president. His nickname was “The Missile Man of India.”
About six months before Dr. Kalam became President of India, he spoke at a tech fest at IIT Bombay, one of the leading tech universities in India. I was blown away by his speech and by the large robots that students were presenting all around the campus. At that moment, I decided that I would study robotics at IIT Bombay. I remember promising my father that one day he would see me at IIT demonstrating my robots.
In my first year at IIT, I met Chintan Raikar, who would go on to become one of my two Co-Founders at Miko. Before the year ended, Chintan and I had built our own robot. Soon after that, we found ourselves demonstrating our robot at that same IIT tech festival that inspired me to study robotics. When my parents stood in line to see our demo, they were elated.
From there, I competed in numerous robotics competitions around the world. I also worked in robotics professionally for a few years. Then, in 2015, Chintan and another fellow classmate, Prashant Iyengar, came across a study that sparked a big idea. Researchers exploring work-life balance found that the majority of Indian parents were concerned about how their work was affecting their kids’ development. We set out to create a companion robot that would support kids not just academically but emotionally. We named it Miko, short for “My Companion.”
Since launching Miko, our first-generation robot in 2015, our little robot has engaged millions of kids in 140+ countries. It’s packed with personality and, thanks to AI, provides a fun, emotional experience that is changing how families think about playtime. We released our third-generation robot, Miko 3, in October after participating in the Disney Accelerator program.
Robotics is transforming how kids interact with technology, and the best is yet to come. I couldn’t be more excited to help kids experience the best of AI — whether that’s through building their own robots like I did as a child or having fun with a robot buddy like Miko.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
When I co-founded Miko, I wasn’t yet a parent. I spoke with countless parents and educators to gain insights into how children can and should interact with technology. But no amount of field research can provide as much insight as actually being a parent and raising a child in today’s world. When my son was born a couple of years ago, it transformed my approach to kids tech, and my experience as a parent guides me every day as I lead Miko.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
There’s a famous quote from Dr. Kalam, “If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.” Hearing it always reminds me that achieving big things takes passion and determination — not just sometimes, but all the time. Of course, these words have another layer of meaning for me because they were spoken by the man who inspired me to study robotics. But even if you’re unfamiliar with Dr. Kalam, his quote holds a lot of meaning. I can’t think of a single circumstance in life that wouldn’t benefit from this wisdom, be it professional or personal.
Ok wonderful. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?
As any roboticist will tell you, generative adversarial network (GAN) frameworks are nothing new. But by applying these algorithms in innovative ways, we can create AI experiences that we once thought impossible. One of our focuses at Miko right now is building GAN frameworks specialized to children.
Our Miko 3 robot already leverages machine learning to provide an interactive, emotional experience for kids. Through GAN, our team is taking this robot-child interaction to the next level. In a nutshell, we’re developing experiences where kids can co-create art and co-write music with Miko 3. This is the first step in our much larger goal of helping Miko develop emotions in the same way that humans do. We see emotion and creativity as intrinsically linked, and we’re excited to help robots create alongside humans.
How do you think this might change the world?
Today, machines can understand emotions, build personality profiles and adapt to a human’s personality. As AI evolves, it’s moving toward the advanced stages of consciousness faster than we can even comprehend. Co-creation is a major milestone in the journey toward a society where humans and AI coexist. When this happens, AI will blend seamlessly into our world, and we’ll be able to achieve bigger goals together.
Keeping “Black Mirror” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?
As with any technology, the robotics field is ever evolving. It will take integrity to ensure that humans and machines coexist rather than clash. Often, the dialogue is about machines versus humans — especially in terms of the future of work and employment. By shifting the conversation to collaboration between robots and humans, we can ensure that AI blends seamlessly and positively into our world.
Because Miko develops robot companions for kids, I also think a lot about safety. How can we give children the best, safest experience with technology? We’ve gone to great lengths to protect children’s privacy and safeguard their data. Parents need support so that they can identify which technologies are safest for their kids.
What are the three things that most excite you about the robotics industry? Why?
I’m excited to see kids learn robotics from a young age because that will shape our industry’s future. The fact that robotics education is becoming more popular in so many countries is even more exciting. Diversity is fertile ground for world-changing ideas, and it takes a global approach to drive real progress.
I’m also energized by recent developments in the kids robotics space. During the pandemic, technology use among kids reached new heights. Companies like Miko can ensure that kids get the best of technology — the emotional bond, the fun, the playful learning and the all-around interaction. These things are only possible with AI, and we’re just getting started.
What are the three things that concern you about the robotics industry? Why?
I wouldn’t use the word “concerned,” but I am acutely aware of how robotics can shape our world. It’s important for roboticists to innovate with integrity so that AI enhances society rather than poses a threat to it. With kids AI, there’s even more need for honesty, transparency and the right intentions.
As you know, there is an ongoing debate between prominent scientists, (personified as a debate between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg,) about whether advanced AI has the potential to pose a danger to humanity in the future. What is your position about this?
I acknowledge the risk but am a firm believer in AI’s potential to do good. When humans and robots collaborate, we’ll be able to achieve bigger goals than we can alone.
Given the cost and resources that it takes to develop robotics, how do you safeguard your intellectual property during development and also once the robot is deployed in industry?
It’s important to view IP protection with a long-term lens. It needs to be driven by a long-term roadmap and a top-down strategy; that strategy should start with a high-level architectural system. Patents must span design, low-level technology and implementation, plus new versions of the product. As with robotics itself, IP strategy needs to think about not just today’s problems but how the technology will evolve over the next decade.
Fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Robotics Industry?
To be successful in robotics, it takes a combination of technical skills and soft skills. A deep understanding of electronics and mechanics is critical. So is training in industrial design. But because the industry moves so quickly, it’s not enough to become educated in these areas once; roboticists need to have an insatiable appetite for continued education. It’s about constantly exploring “what’s next.”
Once that foundation is in place, there are two other key ingredients: a global mindset and a strong sense of ethics. For the field to progress, it takes real global collaboration. And the people driving that progress must have integrity. If all these elements come together, roboticists can help shape the future in a positive way.
As you know, there are not that many women in this industry. Can you advise what is needed to engage more women in the robotics industry?
It’s important to get girls excited about robotics from a young age. There are so many organizations doing this work, whether through youth robotics competitions or after-school clubs — and their efforts are making real progress. But there’s still so much work to be done in empowering girls to explore robotics and AI. Some of this can start at home, but some of it should also come from educators, who are critical to a child’s learning and development. By teaching girls about robotics, we empower more women to bring their unique experiences to the field.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Our vision at Miko is to help every child experience the magic of AI. If we accomplish this, it will level the playing field for education and tech access. There’s no denying the positive impact that this would have on our world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow our work in kids robotics at miko.ai. We’re constantly rolling out new features and capabilities that enhance not just Miko 3, but the relationship that children have with AI.
Thank you so much for the time you spent doing this interview. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success.
About The Interviewer: David Leichner is a veteran of the Israeli high-tech industry with significant experience in the areas of cyber and security, enterprise software and communications. At Cybellum, a leading provider of Product Security Lifecycle Management, David is responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy and managing the global marketing team that forms the foundation for Cybellum’s product and market penetration. Prior to Cybellum, David was CMO at SQream and VP Sales and Marketing at endpoint protection vendor, Cynet. David is the Chairman of the Friends of Israel and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Technology College. He holds a BA in Information Systems Management and an MBA in International Business from the City University of New York.
