S2E4: Digital Infrastructure, AI at Scale, and Industrial Robotics with Tomas Lamanauskas (Deputy Secretary General, ITU) and Fredrik Isler (CFO, ANYbotics)

This week, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore speak with two leaders shaping the future of digital infrastructure, AI, and industrial energy systems: Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the United Nations, and Fredrik Isler, CFO of ETH Zurich spin-out ANYbotics.

Brynne and Chris open with a discussion on how geopolitics, energy security, and AI are increasingly intertwined. They explore the shift from carbon-centric narratives toward cost, sovereignty, and competition for electrons and molecules, the implications of AI-driven electricity demand for grids and consumers, and why hyperscalers are being pushed toward behind-the-meter and co-located power solutions.

Tomas Lamanauskas reflects on his journey from telecom regulation across multiple continents to shaping global digital policy at the ITU. He explains how AI and connectivity can reduce emissions through smarter networks, grids, and cities, while also addressing the growing footprint of digital infrastructure itself. Tomas shares insights into the ITU’s Green Digital Action agenda, including standards-based approaches to sustainable data centers, AI-enabled efficiency, early warning systems, and integrating sustainability into next-generation technologies.

Fredrik Isler discusses how ANYbotics is bringing AI into the physical world through autonomous inspection robots deployed across energy and industrial environments. He explains why robotics is becoming essential infrastructure for asset monitoring, safety, and operational efficiency, how certification unlocks adoption in regulated industries, and why Switzerland’s ETH and EPFL ecosystems are producing globally competitive deep-tech scale-ups.