HIRED! The Podcast (Ft. Ken Macken) | Ep. #59

What’s Holding Robotics Back?


Automation might be the buzzword of the decade, but for Ken Macken, CEO and Founder of Workr Labs, the hype doesn’t match the reality. Despite decades of advancements, Macken argues that robotics and computer vision are still stuck in a frustratingly primitive stage. In Episode 59 of HIRED! The Podcast, host Travis Miller explores this bold claim with Macken, taking listeners on a fast-paced journey through the challenges facing industrial innovation today.

The Illusion of Progress

From a distance, robotics seems to be advancing rapidly. But according to Macken, much of that progress is surface-level. “Nothing has changed in robotics and computer vision for over 20 years,” he says in the episode. While hardware has become more powerful and compute capacity has skyrocketed, many tasks—like simple bin picking—are still incredibly difficult to automate.

Macken compares today’s robotics interfaces to a DOS command prompt: effective for the expert few, but inaccessible to most. Without a “Windows moment” to democratize usability, robotics remains out of reach for all but the largest, most advanced manufacturers. And that’s a problem.

Leaders Are Playing It Too Safe

Throughout the conversation, Macken pushes back on a common mindset in manufacturing: waiting. Whether it’s uncertainty around raw materials or labor availability, many leaders are paralyzed by what’s next. But Macken says that’s a risk in itself. “If we don’t automate… you’re going to be out of business.”

Instead of viewing automation as a gamble, he wants manufacturers to treat it as the default. Build with automation in mind. Train your team now. And stop waiting for the perfect moment to move. Because it might never come.

Human-Machine Collaboration Is the Future

Far from being anti-robot, Macken is a vocal advocate for automation—when it’s implemented with purpose. He envisions a future where people are empowered by intuitive tools, not replaced by complex systems. “We need better user interfaces, better software tools,” he says. It’s not just about increasing yield or shaving down costs. It’s about creating work people can be proud of.

And that work, Macken argues, will look very different from the factory roles of the past. As automation spreads, workers will shift into assistive roles that require judgment, oversight, and communication—skills robots still struggle to replicate.

Whether you’re a systems integrator, a hiring authority, or an engineer wondering how your job will evolve, this episode is a must-listen. It challenges assumptions, offers solutions, and reminds us that the future of automation doesn’t have to leave humans behind.

Ken Macken is the CEO & Founder of Workr Labs. With over 20 years in manufacturing, he’s built and sold companies, led robotics system integrations, and now focuses on redefining the human-robot relationship through intuitive, accessible automation tools. A native of rural Australia and now based in the Bay Area, Ken is committed to democratizing robotics for the next generation of manufacturers.

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Ken Macken

Workr Labs

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