Bliss and Dustin (Nov 12)

Attendees: Dustin J Ross, Bliss Perry Date: November 12, 2025 Type: Partner Session

Summary

Core thesis: US faces capacity problem, not just mentality problem
- Always been ahead technologically
- No experience being behind and catching up quickly
- Other countries (China, Japan, Soviet Union) have played catch-up game successfully
Mentality vs experience question
- Mentality likely needs to come before experience
- Potential need for another “Sputnik moment” to trigger awareness
Key question: Who dictates this mentality?
- Business culture vs DC influence
- Need to define what “America” means in this context

Proposed framework: America needs to learn from other countries
- Send people globally to study best practices
- Bring back innovations from China, Japan, Korea, Gulf states
- Similar to historical Japanese approach during Meiji period
Potential structure
- Manufacturing expertise from China
- Robotics knowledge from Korea
- DC presentation leg at end to share learnings
Challenge: Technology transfer restrictions
- China unlikely to allow same access US previously gave
- Question whether US openness was political idealism or profit-driven

Etymology insight: “Robot” from Slavic root meaning “to work”
Transformational potential
- AI-powered robots could complete separation of humanity from work
- Physical work automation following mental work (LLMs)
- Frees humanity for other pursuits
Current landscape
- Korea and China leading in robotics
- US has minimal robotics presence
- Opportunity for fast-follower approach

Stuart Resnick influence (major agricultural magnate)
- Owns Wonderful Pistachios, Fiji Water, POM juice
- Emphasis on driving real productivity gains
Focus on meaningful productivity improvements
- Real growth vs nominal growth
- Tangible impact over abstract software solutions
- Examples: Modular hospitals (5 months vs 2.5 years construction)
Personal mission: “Make tomorrow better than today, but only if we make it that way”

Historical context: Chinese joint venture requirements
- Forced IP, trademark, and schematic transfers
- Required partnerships for any manufacturing operations
Modern implications
- China now too sophisticated to allow reverse engineering
- Need alternative approaches for technology acquisition
- Manufacturing knowledge gaps in US system