Behind the first AI that understands the physical world | Leonardo Giusti

Behind the first AI that understands the physical world | Leonardo Giusti

From Design This Day by Teague

June 9, 2025 · 27 min · Episode 8

About this episode

Devin Liddell interviews Leonardo Giusti about his work on a new kind of AI that understands the physical world through sensor data.

Devin speaks with Leonardo Giusti, founder and design director at Archetype AI. Leonardo is building a completely different kind of AI. Before starting Archetype AI, he led design at Google's advanced technology and projects division where he worked on some of the company's most experimental ideas. Now, he is training an AI model using – not language – but sensor data from the physical world. Leonardo and Devin explore how humans can wrestle agency back from AI, why designing for “polite” and “considerate” AI reveals a deeper design challenge, and how this work can inspire optimism—even among skeptics. [02:41] Translating Sensor Data [03:25] A Dog With A Stick [07:08] Analyzing Traffic “Near Misses” [9:42] Is There Such Thing As Too Much Information? [12:09] A Win-Win for Profit and Sustainability [13:16] Getting Philosophical [15:55] Design Challenges in AI Integration [22:15] Speed Round Links Devin Liddell on LinkedIn Leonardo Giusti on LinkedIn Teague About the Host: Futurist Devin Liddell Devin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike…

People in this episode

Host: Devin Liddell

Guest: Leonardo Giusti

Topics covered

  • AI design
  • sensor data
  • human agency
  • sustainability
  • design challenges
  • optimism in technology

Keywords

  • AI
  • sensor data
  • design
  • human agency
  • sustainability
  • optimism
  • traffic analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Archetype AI, Google, Teague

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