Why Delivery Still Costs So Much
Automated Podcast 45:42
654 views · 19 likes Watch on YouTube ↗
“It costs $10 to move something across your city, but $2 to ship it across the world.”
That gap should not exist, but it does.
In this episode of Automated, Ali Kashani, CEO of Serve Robotics, explains why last-mile delivery is still one of the hardest problems in logistics and what it actually takes to fix it.
Robotics looks impressive in demos.
But the real world is where things break.
Ali breaks down why building in the real world matters more than perfecting systems in a lab, how unpredictable human behavior shapes robot design, and why most failures happen outside controlled environments.
He also explains why lowering the cost of delivery is not just about efficiency. It could unlock entirely new demand, expand local economies, and create more jobs rather than eliminate them.
Brian and Ali also discuss safety, public perception, and what happens when robots operate at scale in cities. From strange real-world incidents to long-term urban impact, this conversation shows what it actually takes to deploy robotics in public spaces.
If you want to understand where delivery, automation, and cities are heading next, this is the conversation.
KEY MOMENTS
(00:00) Last-mile delivery cost problem
(02:01) Intro to Serve Robotics and background
(06:34) Why sidewalk delivery beat self-driving cars early
(09:15) Why real-world testing matters more than labs
(11:01) Dealing with unpredictable human behavior
(12:13) Real-world incidents and unexpected edge cases
(16:36) Safety principles and robots vs cars
(18:07) Principle over perception in decision making
(19:20) Public perception and media challenges
(22:57) Jobs, automation, and economic impact
(24:45) The shipping container analogy for job creation
(26:09) How robots could reshape cities
(28:07) Reducing dependence on cars and improving urban life
(28:53) Industry reactions and adoption challenges
(31:50) Why Serve spun out of Postmates and Uber
(35:09) Lessons from acquisitions and founder empathy
(39:04) Scaling from 100 to 2000 robots
(40:24) Future scaling and deployment strategy
(41:20) Indoor robotics and navigating real environments
(43:27) Healthcare robotics and nurse shortages
Connect with Ali Kashani
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikashani/
Learn more about Serve Robotics
https://www.serverobotics.com/
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@automate.org
Find the transcript and more episodes at automated.fm
Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation.
Subscribe today on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
That gap should not exist, but it does.
In this episode of Automated, Ali Kashani, CEO of Serve Robotics, explains why last-mile delivery is still one of the hardest problems in logistics and what it actually takes to fix it.
Robotics looks impressive in demos.
But the real world is where things break.
Ali breaks down why building in the real world matters more than perfecting systems in a lab, how unpredictable human behavior shapes robot design, and why most failures happen outside controlled environments.
He also explains why lowering the cost of delivery is not just about efficiency. It could unlock entirely new demand, expand local economies, and create more jobs rather than eliminate them.
Brian and Ali also discuss safety, public perception, and what happens when robots operate at scale in cities. From strange real-world incidents to long-term urban impact, this conversation shows what it actually takes to deploy robotics in public spaces.
If you want to understand where delivery, automation, and cities are heading next, this is the conversation.
KEY MOMENTS
(00:00) Last-mile delivery cost problem
(02:01) Intro to Serve Robotics and background
(06:34) Why sidewalk delivery beat self-driving cars early
(09:15) Why real-world testing matters more than labs
(11:01) Dealing with unpredictable human behavior
(12:13) Real-world incidents and unexpected edge cases
(16:36) Safety principles and robots vs cars
(18:07) Principle over perception in decision making
(19:20) Public perception and media challenges
(22:57) Jobs, automation, and economic impact
(24:45) The shipping container analogy for job creation
(26:09) How robots could reshape cities
(28:07) Reducing dependence on cars and improving urban life
(28:53) Industry reactions and adoption challenges
(31:50) Why Serve spun out of Postmates and Uber
(35:09) Lessons from acquisitions and founder empathy
(39:04) Scaling from 100 to 2000 robots
(40:24) Future scaling and deployment strategy
(41:20) Indoor robotics and navigating real environments
(43:27) Healthcare robotics and nurse shortages
Connect with Ali Kashani
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikashani/
Learn more about Serve Robotics
https://www.serverobotics.com/
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@automate.org
Find the transcript and more episodes at automated.fm
Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation.
Subscribe today on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
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