Chris on AI, autonomous swarming, home automation and Rust!

Chris on AI, autonomous swarming, home automation and Rust!

Author: Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson November 27, 2025 Duration: 1:37:09

This episode is a special crossover between the Practical AI podcast and The Changelog podcast. Chris was recently invited by longtime friends Jerod Santo and Adam Stacoviak, cohosts of The Changelog, to join them on the show. They discuss AI, drones, robotics, swarming technology, and the rise of high-performance edge computing with Rust.  Chris points out that open source software, small AI models, and affordable hardware are making home automation and local AI accessible to everyone. From automating household functions to experimenting with drones and single-board computers, Chris describes how hands-on maker projects are shaping a bright future for physical AI, on small budgets and right from the comfort of your own home.

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This week we have extended show notes below from Chris!

Swarming & Fully Autonomous Multi-Agent UxV Systems

Chris’s Definition of Swarming (anchor link in show notes)

Chris’s definition of Swarming
“Swarming occurs when numerous independent fully-autonomous multi-agentic platforms exhibit highly-coordinated locomotive and emergent behaviors with agency and self-governance in any domain (air, ground, sea, undersea, space), functioning as a single independent logical distributed decentralized decisioning entity for purposes of C3 (command, control, communications) with human operators on-the-loop, to implement actions that achieve strategic, tactical, or operational effects in the furtherance of a mission.”
© 2025 Chris Benson

Conceptual Foundations

Open Research & Multi-Robot Resources (Stepping-Stones Toward True Swarms)

Getting Hands-On: Consumer Robotics, ROS 2 & Gazebo

ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2)

Gazebo Simulation

micro-ROS (ROS 2 on Microcontrollers)

  • micro-ROS – ROS 2 for Microcontrollers
    Official site for running ROS 2 on tiny embedded boards.
    https://micro.ros.org
  • micro-ROS GitHub Organization
    Repositories, examples, and tutor...

There's a lot of noise out there about artificial intelligence, but cutting through the hype to find what's genuinely useful can be a challenge. That's the space where Practical AI operates. Hosted by the team at Practical AI LLC, this technology podcast moves beyond abstract theory to explore how AI, machine learning, and large language models are actually being applied right now. Each episode features unscripted conversations with a diverse mix of experts, developers, business leaders, and curious minds. You'll hear tangible discussions about implementing machine learning systems, the realities of MLOps, the evolution of neural networks, and the practical implications of breakthroughs in deep learning and GANs. The dialogue is grounded in real-world scenarios, focusing on how these technologies solve problems, drive productivity, and create value in accessible ways. Whether you're a professional building models, a business person integrating AI tools, or an enthusiast eager to understand the landscape, this podcast offers a clear, conversational entry point. It’s about making sense of a complex field through the lens of practical application, demystifying the concepts that are shaping our world without losing sight of how they work on the ground.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Practical AI
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