cover of episode Grasso the Trash Bot: AI-Powered and Full of 80s Charm

Grasso the Trash Bot: AI-Powered and Full of 80s Charm

2024/12/2
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The Quantum Drift

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What happens when retro junkyard aesthetics meet cutting-edge AI? Meet Grasso, a robot built by engineer Chris Fenton, powered by local language models and assembled from literal trash. Join Robert Loft and Haley Hanson as we unpack Grasso’s quirky design, from its webcam with googly eyes to its toaster torso and solar-powered brain.

We explore:

  • How Python scripts and local AI drive Grasso’s decision-making.
  • The magic of an 80s-era text-to-speech synthesizer found in a junk pile.
  • Why this “mad scientist” project hints at a future of low-cost, on-device AI robotics.

Tune in for a mix of nostalgia, innovation, and the heartwarming tale of a bot that proves intelligence doesn’t have to be polished!