Jamie Paik, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Biography

Prof. Jamie Paik transforms cutting-edge robotics research into market-ready solutions. She began her career building humanoid robots before pioneering the field of soft, reconfigurable robotics—founding two successful spin-offs (MIROS and Foldaway-Haptics) while serving as Vice-Dean of Engineering at EPFL, Switzerland's premier technical university.

Her "robogami" technology—robots that morph from flat sheets into complex 3D structures—was featured in Mercedes-Benz's VISION AVTR concept car at CES 2020 and showcased at TED, demonstrating real-world applications in automotive design, medical devices, space systems, and wearable technology.

As Director of the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab, Prof. Paik has established herself as a world authority in soft robotics and autonomous transformation systems. Her research, published in Nature, Science, and leading robotics journals, addresses critical challenges in minimally invasive surgery, adaptive manufacturing, space exploration, and next-generation human-robot interaction.

Prof. Paik's expertise extends beyond academia—she has consulted for industry leaders including Meta, Samsung, and advanced manufacturing companies, translating robotics innovation into practical business applications. She was selected as the first robotics representative to present at the Millennium Technology Prize forum, has spoken at the UN and major industry conferences, and regularly advises organizations on technology strategy.

Her presentations translate complex technological advances into strategic opportunities, helping business leaders understand not just what's possible in robotics—but how to leverage emerging adaptive and reconfigurable systems for competitive advantage.

Title: Adaptive Intelligence for Future of Automation

Abstract

As intelligent systems move into physical environments—hospitals, homes, factories—a critical challenge emerges: how do we create machines that safely navigate the dynamic complexity of the real world?

Current approaches prioritize computational sophistication through massive datasets and learning algorithms. Yet physical interaction remains the bottleneck. Rigid automation struggles with contextual adaptation; conventional robots require safety barriers that limit human-centered applications.

Recent breakthroughs in reconfigurable robotics offer a different paradigm. Self-reconfigurable modular systems autonomously change their morphology; soft-bodied robots adapt their compliance based on context. These platforms embed intelligence in physical structure—achieving safety through material properties, versatility through morphological adaptation, and resilience through distributed control.

This talk demonstrates how physical reconfigurability addresses deployment challenges computational approaches alone cannot solve, offering policymakers practical insights for governing autonomous systems: platforms whose physical design provides inherent safety, graceful failure, and human compatibility.