Subvolts take Build physical AI projects at home with small models and affordable hardware. Nov 26, 2025 - Developers
- Learn how to use Rust and small AI models for edge computing and physical AI projects, making automation accessible.
- Business
- Explore how affordable hardware and open-source AI are enabling new consumer applications in home automation and robotics.
- Everyday users
- Discover how accessible AI and maker projects are leading to smarter homes and new ways to interact with technology.
This is a solid interview discussing accessible AI hardware and software trends.
Chris on AI, autonomous swarming, home automation and Rust!
Audio streams from Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson. Your place is remembered on this device.
From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
This Practical AI podcast episode features a crossover with The Changelog, where host Chris Benson joins Jerod Santo and Adam Stacoviak. They explore AI's role in autonomous swarming, robotics, and high-performance edge computing using Rust. The discussion highlights how open-source software, small AI models, and affordable hardware are democratizing home automation and local AI development for makers.
This episode discusses how small AI programs and cheap electronics are making it possible for anyone to build smart devices at home. You can learn how to automate your house or experiment with robots and drones using accessible technology.
This episode offers insights into the practical application of AI beyond large cloud models, focusing on edge computing and physical AI projects. It is for developers and hobbyists interested in robotics, home automation, and leveraging Rust for AI. The trend towards smaller, accessible AI models and hardware aligns with the broader industry push for more distributed and specialized AI, potentially impacting how consumers interact with AI in their homes and how developers build for these environments.
- HostDaniel Whitenack
- HostChris Benson
- GuestJerod Santocohost, The Changelog
- GuestAdam Stacoviakcohost, The Changelog
- GuestChris Bensonhost, Practical AI
- Episode Title: Chris on AI, autonomous swarming, home automation and Rust!
- Show: Practical AI
- Length: 97 minutes
- Key Discussion Points: AI, drones, robotics, swarming technology, high-performance edge computing with Rust, open source software, small AI models, affordable hardware, home automatio
Chapters from the publisher ↗ · Transcript ↗ Key moments and transcript search come with a later piece.
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
- Swarm Robotics – Wikipedia
High-level overview of swarm robotics as decentralized robot collectives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_robotics - Swarm Robotic Platforms – Wikipedia
Survey of hardware platforms used in swarm robotics research.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_robotic_platforms - Swarm Intelligence – Wikipedia<
- autonomous swarming
- Jerod Santo, Adam Stacoviak, Chris Benson
- groups of robots or drones that can coordinate and act together without constant human control.
- edge computing
- Jerod Santo, Adam Stacoviak, Chris Benson
- processing data closer to where it is generated, rather than sending it to a central server.
- Rust
- Jerod Santo, Adam Stacoviak, Chris Benson
- a modern programming language known for its speed and safety, often used for system-level programming.
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Questions people ask
- What is the main topic of this Practical AI episode?
- The episode discusses AI, autonomous swarming, home automation, and edge computing with Rust, highlighting accessible maker projects.
- Who are the guests on this episode?
- Jerod Santo and Adam Stacoviak, cohosts of The Changelog podcast, join Practical AI host Chris Benson.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson.