David Rogers

Sydney

Markets Editor at The Australian

Markets Editor at the @Australian in Sydney. Analysing financial markets since 1987. Breaking news, views and charts.

Articles

Mission Possible: Rise of Agent Machines

6 days ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistThe convergence of AI and robotics is creating unprecedented strategic value for both robotics startups and established companies. As David Sacks highlighted, the concept of networked learning between robots represents a transformative network effect that could dominate entire industries, as seen in autonomous vehicle fleets and robotaxis.
Designed, Molded, & Delivered

1 week ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistAutomate 2025 is in the books, next up in automation conference season are Siemens’ Realize LIVE 2025 and automatica, both happening in June. Realize LIVE splits into two regional events: Americas in Detroit June 2-5 with 450+ sessions, and Europe in Amsterdam June 30-July 2 with 350+ sessions. automatica runs June 24-27 in Munich as the world's leading robotics and automation trade fair, expecting 40,000 visitors and 650 exhibitors.
Automate In Your Backyard

2 weeks ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistAccording to the latest data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the U.S. automotive industry increased industrial robot installations by 10.7% to 13,700 units in 2024, despite the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) reporting a 15% drop in automotive sales.
Capitalizing on the Industrial Autonomy Boom

3 weeks ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistThis week marks a watershed moment for autonomous transportation. Aurora Innovation completed the first fully driverless commercial freight delivery on a public highway, traveling from Dallas to Houston without a human in the cab.
Progressive Exploration for Industrial Discovery

1 month ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistEach week as I curate media for you at the intersection of manufacturing, heavy industry, and emerging technologies, I'm reminded of why I started this newsletter. My assessment from the EQT Founders Test identified "Progressive Explorer" as my dominant trait—and it explains so much about our journey together. Being a Progressive Explorer comes with a constant curiosity, a drive to seek fresh perspectives, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking.
One Good Part Manufacture to the Next

1 month ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistHenry Samueli, Broadcom cofounder and 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor recipient, offers straightforward career advice. Rather than chasing compensation, Samueli emphasizes pursuing engineering for impact and passion, noting that financial rewards typically follow meaningful contributions. He strongly advocates for maximizing educational credentials, citing statistical evidence that STEM professionals consistently outperform other fields in compensation.
Go for the Race, Stay for the Bionics ğ¦¿

1 month ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistThe Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon reveals we're nowhere near a definitive "AlphaGo momentâ for bipedal robotics. While AlphaGo decisively defeated world champion Lee Sedol in 2016, demonstrating superhuman capabilities in a complex cognitive domain, humanoid robots still struggle with basic mobility.
White-knuckle Microfactories

1 month ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistHow it Started vs How It's GoingWe have a fully done one, that’s going to get shipped out next week... Manufacturing equipment delivery involves much more than just production—the entire journey from order to operation is critical for customer value.
Tackling Tariffs with Industrial Technology

2 months ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistAt Hannover Messe 2025, automation and Industrial AI technologies took center stage, showcasing how manufacturers are accelerating digital transformation to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly complex global market. These advancements in digital manufacturing, connected workers, and autonomous production systems represent more than technological evolution—they are essential for navigating the challenging tariff landscape.
Read Between the Machines

2 months ago | substack.exponentialindustry.com | David Rogers

Capturing this week's zeitgeistIn manufacturing environments where precision is paramount, our words don't always follow suit. Just as Ford executive Mike O'Brien meticulously documented his colleagues' linguistic missteps over decades, manufacturing floors worldwide are hotbeds for verbal gymnastics and colorful language. This newsletter is no different, with intentional polysemous and antithesis titles.