codesanitize

Teradyne right this moment introduced management adjustments for each of its robotics divisions, efficient instantly. Jean-Pierre Hathout transitions from main Cellular Industrial Robots (MiR) to changing Kim Povlsen because the president of Common Robots (UR). Kevin Dumas succeeds Hathout as the brand new president of MIR. Povlsen is pursuing an exterior profession alternative.

This adjustment comes on the heels of current Teradyne fiscal 2024 monetary outcomes. UR, a number one developer of collaborative robotic arms, declined 3% 12 months over 12 months, and autonomous cell robotic (AMR) developer MiR grew 1% 12 months over 12 months. Teradyne Robotics Group laid off 10% of its world workers in January 2024.

Teradyne additionally final week introduced monetary outcomes for the primary quarter of 2025. In accordance with the corporate, its robotics income was $69 million in Q1 2025, which is down from $98 million in This fall 2024. This additionally marked a 21% drop in gross sales in Q1 12 months over 12 months. In its quarterly report, Teradyne stated “robotics continues to face ongoing finish market weak point however delivering on AI product portfolio (MiR 1200 Pallet Jack, UR AI Accelerator).”

“Visibility within the second half is restricted and the influence of commerce coverage on finish market demand continues to be in flux,” stated Teradyne CEO Greg Smith. “Regardless of the present market uncertainty, Teradyne is effectively positioned for the long-term demand drivers of AI, electrification, and verticalization.”

Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of Common Robots. | Credit score: Teradyne

The transition marks a brand new chapter for Common Robots because it continues to develop its attain and innovation within the quickly evolving automation business. Hathout brings a wealth of expertise to the position, following his expertise main the expansion and enlargement of MIR.

Throughout his tenure, Povlsen oversaw the develop of a number of new merchandise from Common Robots. The corporate additionally not too long ago introduced a major enlargement in China, the world’s largest marketplace for industrial robots. To satisfy rising Chinese language demand, Common Robots (UR) has established manufacturing capabilities in Nantong, China. The corporate will produce two new cobots for that market: the UR7e and UR12e.

“As we mark this transition, I wish to thank Kim for his excellent management and his pivotal position in advancing Common Robots’ mission and strengthening its place available in the market,” stated Ujjwal Kumar, Group President, Teradyne Robotics. “Trying forward, we’re excited to welcome Jean-Pierre Hathout as the brand new President. His deep business information, world management expertise, and dedication to innovation make him the proper individual to guide Common Robots.

New management at MiR

Kevin Dumas, president of Cellular Industrial Robots. | Credit score: Teradyne

On the cell robotics facet, Dumas succeeds Hathout. Throughout Hathout’s tenure at MiR, the corporate bolstered its world market presence, broadened its vary of AMRs, and spearheaded a lot of developments. His contributions are acknowledged for establishing a powerful basis for MiR’s future success in offering logistics options worldwide.

“I want to thank Jean-Pierre for his management and the necessary influence he has made at MiR,” acknowledged Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics. “As we glance forward, we’re thrilled to welcome Kevin Dumas as the brand new President. Kevin’s deep technical experience, sturdy enterprise acumen, and confirmed observe file of driving progress make him ideally suited to guide MiR into its subsequent part of innovation and world enlargement.”

Dumas brings a wealth of expertise to the president position, having held a number of management positions throughout his 13-year profession at Teradyne. These roles embrace enterprise unit basic supervisor and director of product advertising and marketing & gross sales. Most not too long ago, he served as VP of product at MiR, offering him with intimate information of the corporate’s operations and strategic path. His background encompasses a mix of technical proficiency throughout mechanical, electrical, and software program engineering, coupled with strategic enterprise management. Dumas holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the College of Massachusetts Amherst.

“I’m honored to have the ability to lead MiR at such a transformational time for the corporate and for the broader world of robotics,” stated Dumas. “Our autonomous cell robots are remodeling how companies deal with logistics, and I look ahead to working alongside our gifted crew to drive innovation, ship excellent worth to our prospects, and develop our influence globally.”

These management adjustments underscore Teradyne Robotics’ dedication to strengthening its place within the quickly evolving automation market. The present macroeconomic local weather calls for prudence because the world grapples with U.S. tariffs and the potential fallout of a worldwide recession.

“Theories are like toothbrushes,” it’s generally mentioned. “All people has their very own and no one needs to make use of anyone else’s.”

It’s a joke, however with regards to the research of consciousness—the query of how we now have a subjective expertise of something in any respect—it’s not too removed from the reality.

In 2022, British neuroscientist Anil Seth and I printed a overview itemizing 22 theories based mostly within the biology of the mind. In 2024, working with a much less restrictive scope, US public mental Robert Kuhn counted greater than 200.

It’s in opposition to this background that Nature has simply printed the outcomes of an “adversarial collaboration” from a gaggle referred to as the Cogitate Consortium centered on two outstanding theories: world neuronal workspace concept and built-in info concept.

Two Huge Theories Go Head to Head

With so many concepts floating round and inherently elusive material, testing theories has been no simple job. Certainly, debate between proponents of various theories has been vigorous and, at occasions, acrimonious.

At a very low level in 2023, after the preliminary announcement of the outcomes Cogitate has now formally printed, many specialists signed an open letter arguing that built-in info concept was not solely false however doesn’t even qualify as scientific.

Nonetheless, world neuronal workspace concept and built-in info concept are two of the “massive 4” theories that dominate present discussions of consciousness. (The others are higher-order illustration theories, and the native re-entry—or recurrency—concept.)

The theories are laborious to summarize, however each tie consciousness to the exercise of neurons in several components of the mind.

Advocates of those two theories, along with a variety of unaligned theorists, generated predictions from the 2 theories concerning the sorts of mind exercise one would anticipate to be related to consciousness.

Predictions and Outcomes

The group agreed that built-in info concept predicts acutely aware notion must be related to sustained synchronization and exercise of indicators in part of the mind referred to as the posterior cortex.

Then again, they mentioned world neuronal workspace concept predicts {that a} strategy of “neural ignition” ought to accompany each the beginning and finish of a stimulus. What’s extra, it must be attainable to decode what an individual is acutely aware of from exercise of their prefrontal cortex.

These hypotheses (amongst others) have been examined by “theory-neutral” groups from throughout the globe.

The outcomes weren’t decisive. Some have been in step with predictions of 1 or different of the theories, however different outcomes generated challenges.

For instance, the staff failed to seek out sustained synchronization inside the posterior cortex of the sort predicted by built-in info concept. On the identical time, world neuronal workspace concept is challenged by the truth that not all contents of consciousness might be decoded from the prefrontal cortex, and by the failure to seek out neural ignition when the stimulus was first introduced.

A Win for Science

However though this research wasn’t a win for both concept, it was a decisive win for science. It represents a transparent advance in how the consciousness group approaches theory-testing.

It’s not unusual for researchers to are likely to search for proof in favor of their very own concept. However the seriousness of this downside in consciousness science solely turned clear in 2022, with the publication of an vital paper by a variety of researchers concerned within the Cogitate Consortium. The paper confirmed it was attainable to foretell which concept of consciousness a selected research supported based mostly purely on its design.

The overwhelming majority of makes an attempt to “take a look at” theories of consciousness have been carried out by advocates of these very theories. In consequence, many research have centered on confirming theories (relatively than discovering flaws, or falsifying them).

No Altering Minds

The primary achievement of this collaboration was getting rival theorists to agree on testable predictions of the 2 theories. This was particularly difficult as each the worldwide workspace and built-in info theories are framed in very summary phrases.

One other achievement was to run the the identical experiments in several labs—a very troublesome problem given these labs weren’t dedicated to the theories in query.

Within the early levels of the venture, the staff took recommendation from Israeli-US psychologist Daniel Kahneman, the architect of the thought of adversarial collaborations for analysis.

Kahneman mentioned to not anticipate the outcomes to alter anybody’s thoughts, even when they decisively favored one concept over one other. Scientists are dedicated to their theories, he identified, and can cling to them even within the face of counter-evidence.

The Usefulness of Irrationality

This sort of irrational stubbornness might seem to be an issue, nevertheless it doesn’t should be. With the correct programs in place, it could actually even assist to advance science.

Given we don’t know which theoretical method to consciousness is probably to be proper, the scientific group should deal with consciousness from a wide range of views.

The analysis group wants methods to appropriate itself. Nevertheless, it’s helpful for particular person scientists to stay to their theoretical weapons, and proceed to work inside a selected concept even within the face of problematic findings.

A Arduous Nut to Crack

Consciousness is a tough nut to crack. We don’t but know whether or not it’ll yield to the present strategies of consciousness science, or whether or not it requires a revolution in our ideas or strategies (or maybe each).

What is evident, nevertheless, is that if we’re going to untangle the issue of subjective expertise, the scientific group might want to embrace this mannequin of collaborative analysis.

This text is republished from The Dialog underneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the authentic article.

FourKites is acknowledged for its position in AI-driven provide chain transformation and is the developer of the Clever Management Tower™, which operates on what’s described because the world’s largest real-time visibility community. The platform permits the creation of complete digital twins of provide chains and integrates AI-powered digital brokers to help automation, improve collaboration, and drive operational outcomes for all stakeholders. In distinction to conventional management towers, FourKites’ resolution is designed to help real-time execution and clever achievement throughout each supply-side and customer-facing operations.

What impressed the current shift at FourKites from visibility to regulate towers, and the way did you establish the hole available in the market or that this was the suitable time to pursue these new objectives?

FourKites’ shift to regulate towers and a brand new digital workforce displays a much bigger evolution within the provide chain and logistics area. Merely put, visibility and insights are not sufficient. With the speedy evolution of AI and a imaginative and prescient to maneuver past mere information supply, suppliers are prioritizing clever automation and options that may not solely streamline operations however ship on the promise of AI taking automated motion on the insights that real-time information and visibility present.

The transfer to our clever management tower and a digital workforce helps our prospects obtain their strategic targets in ways in which had been by no means earlier than potential. Now, AI can remodel provide chain administration from reactive monitoring to the proactive orchestration we got down to obtain years in the past, enabling extra autonomous and clever workflows.

Are you able to inform us extra about your journey in know-how and AI and the way it led you to your present position at FourKites?

I began my engineering profession over 20 years in the past in Chicago. Since then I’ve fostered a ardour for all points of know-how from sign processing, video compression, and pc imaginative and prescient, to machine studying and SaaS supply.

The speedy improvement of AI has supercharged that zeal, and the will to be on the forefront of its improvement and adoption within the provide chain has made it a really thrilling time to work within the trade.

That early expertise, together with stops at Logitech, Samsung, and others, led me to my present position at FourKites, the place I’m liable for product supply, information science, and empowering my crew with progress alternatives and platforms to showcase revolutionary work within the provide chain.

As a thought chief in provide chain know-how, how do you see AI reshaping the panorama within the subsequent few years?

Our mission has all the time been to unravel provide chain challenges whereas quickly embracing technological improvements. As we glance forward, what excites me essentially the most is that AI might be utilized in methods we by no means thought potential, serving to prospects collect, course of and take motion in new methods.

Think about that as an alternative of requiring guide inputs for fundamental data, customers of every type will have the ability to merely discuss to an app or take an image of what they see and the LLM will have the ability to establish and extract the identical high quality of knowledge.

Take the Port of New Jersey, and Port of Newark Container Terminal, for instance. They’ve video cameras which are on 24/7 and refresh each 30 seconds. If we begin capturing these frames, we are able to know precisely what vehicles went in and got here out by simply wanting on the license plates or container numbers. Most ports have these cameras accessible 24/7, so the democratization of knowledge and extra pure methods of gathering information would be the lowest-hanging fruit that may revolutionize transport and monitoring.

What metrics or success indicators are most necessary to you when evaluating the platform’s affect on prospects?

A very powerful metrics for evaluating the platform’s buyer affect embrace workflow automation capability, discount in guide duties, and particular operational effectivity enhancements. We’re taking a look at how we are able to cut back OTIF penalties, lower integration prices, enhance cargo dealing with capability, and allow extra autonomous and clever provide chain administration. These metrics present a tangible capacity to ship worth for purchasers by reworking complicated provide chain processes.

How does FourKites leverage AI and machine studying to offer a aggressive edge within the provide chain know-how market?

We leverage AI and machine studying to drive significant progress towards eliminating as we speak’s pervasive information silos, paving the way in which towards a extra environment friendly methodology of monitoring, analyzing and performing on provide chain information in actual time.

To that finish, we use AI to assist assess the affect of disruptive occasions, diagnose monitoring points, receive product steerage, and extra. Our new AI-powered digital staff automate widespread workflows, eliminating 80% of routine duties and rising cargo dealing with capability by 40% whereas working across the clock.

What differentiates FourKite’s resolution from others within the trade, notably by way of AI capabilities and integrations?

We differentiate ourselves by specializing in end-to-end workflow execution, changing generic AI fashions into provide chain area consultants, and sustaining a dedication to steady studying and speedy know-how adoption. By integrating real-time community information, digital twins of consumers’ provide chain operations, and an AI-powered digital workforce, we provide the trade’s most complete and clever resolution.

Are you able to share insights into the event course of behind FourKite’s core options, together with its real-time provide chain information, digital twins and digital workforce?

The event course of for FourKites’ core options is characterised by speedy experimentation, studying, and a collaborative method. We use a devoted R&D crew we name the AI Guild targeted on exploring the newest applied sciences, conducting inner testing and validation, and sharing insights in a method that strikes as quick as AI can develop.

By breaking complicated duties into smaller, manageable actions and constantly evaluating and integrating new AI fashions, we guarantee our options stay cutting-edge and adaptable.

How have developments in cloud computing and digitization influenced the way in which organizations method their provide chain visibility and automation?

Developments in cloud computing and digitization have profoundly influenced provide chain visibility and automation by dramatically lowering AI coaching prices, eradicating operational silos, and enabling extra complicated and clever programs at scale. These technological shifts have created a necessity for steady studying and adaptation, permitting organizations to develop extra autonomous, clever provide chain options with considerably lowered infrastructure prices and elevated operational flexibility.

How does the Clever Management Tower deal with the important thing limitations of legacy provide chain programs, corresponding to their reliance on batch processing and lack of real-time integration, to allow autonomous actions and enhance operational effectivity?

There isn’t a query that legacy programs have created important roadblocks for corporations hoping to realize extra data-intensive operations and supply better worth by leveraging agentic AI and clever automation.

Regardless of important innovation, we’ve discovered that legacy programs nonetheless battle in terms of real-time information as a result of many are designed for batch processing with relational databases. When FourKites pioneered the real-time provide chain visibility market, our assumption was that enterprise planning and execution programs would devour the data we offer and operationalize it, however that by no means occurred and our prospects had been left to operationalize their information on their very own.

Now, our Clever Management Tower resolution flips the script on legacy programs. Somewhat than counting on enterprise programs to devour information and operationalize it, corporations can as an alternative leverage AI-powered platforms like FourKites to devour the info from legacy programs and combine it into workflows the place digital and human staff alike have the context they want.

What particular use circumstances or buyer ache factors had been prioritized within the improvement of the Clever Management Tower™, and the way do its AI-driven packages, like Provider Join AI and Yard Join AI, create measurable worth for provide chain stakeholders?

In growing the Clever Management Tower, we got down to notice the imaginative and prescient we had since day one at FourKites: to make provide chains extra environment friendly and resilient by addressing essential challenges, corresponding to assessing and mitigating disruptions, automating routine duties, lowering guide doc processing, enhancing provider collaboration, and extra.

We’re tackling these challenges by providing tailored packages that leverage AI to make operational enhancements in the most typical areas. For instance, we’re automating routine track-and-trace actions to extend cargo dealing with capability by 40% and drive as much as a 30% discount in OTIF penalties. We’re additionally serving to shippers utterly automate their collaboration with suppliers delivering extra effectivity within the procurement course of.

Thanks for the nice interview, readers who want to study extra ought to go to FourKites.