Manufacturing's AI Revolution: How Atomic is Automating Tool and Die Making with Aaron Slodov, CEO
In this episode, Will sits down with Aaron Slodov, CEO and Cofounder of Atomic, a company using AI to automate tool and die creation in manufacturing. They discuss the challenges of modern manufacturing in the tool and die making field, the current significant waste generated by inefficient processes, and how Aaron seeks to merge AI with automation to expedite product manufacturing. RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 - 📈 ECON 102 W/ NOAH SMITH - Keeping econ entertaining - Noahpinion author Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg break down business news and politics every week. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812 LINKS: Atomic Industries: https://www.atomic.industries/ Atomic in TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/04/atomic-industries-closes-17m-seed-to-exascale-americas-industrial-base/ Autopilot Ventures: https://apv.vc/ X/SOCIAL: @WillSummerlinAI @APhysicist (Aaron) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Preview (02:02) Aaron Slodov’s Background (07:15) The birth and pivot of Remesh: From social platform to market research (18:16) What does the industry look like for tool and die makers? (19:01) Labour dynamics in tool industries (20:01) How does the manufacturing industry use tech today outside of Atomic? (21:48) Timeline for traditional tool and die maker to complete the design process (22:39) Incentives of buyers of tool and die products (25:13) What is a die cast? (25:42) Die casting’s 30-50% scrap rate (26:57) Atomic’s approach and how it differs from the traditional approach (29:52) How has AI enabled die creation? (35:52) Atomic’s physical factory in Michigan (40:39) Reflecting on venture and the catalyst for deep tech investing (45:00) Reflections on the founder journey (48:21) Wrap -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple