Physical AI systems face real-world design challenges

Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence built into devices that interact with the physical world. Unlike standard AI running in data centers, these systems must handle real-time decisions locally, facing strict limits on power, heat, and reliability—often to keep people or equipment safe. They work by constantly gathering sensor input, interpreting it, and acting right away, so any delay or glitch in memory or communications can cause problems.

• Physical AI runs inference and action cycles on-device
• Local response essential for safety and latency
• Strict hardware limits on power, thermal, and timing
• Sensors, compute, I/O must all work in sync
• Design choices often implemented directly in silicon