Learn why robots need to earn trust from GM expert Mikell Taylor

Mikell Taylor of GM, shown here, will speak about the importance of trust at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo.

Mikell Taylor of GM will speak about the importance of trust at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: MIT

For the robotics industry to continue growing, it must move past excitement around novel technologies and earn the market’s trust, according to Mikell Taylor, director of robotics strategy at General Motors Co. She will deliver a keynote on “What Makes a Robot Worthy?” at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be in Boston on May 27 and 28.

Because they operate in the physical world, robots must demonstrate that they are worthy adoption into environments with very high bars for safety, performance, uptime, and return on investment, noted Taylor. She will give examples based on her experience at startups developing technology for customers of all sizes, as well as in leadership roles at companies including Amazon and GM.

At the Robotics Summit, Taylor will also explain why the industry needs to avoid stagnation in “pilot purgatory.” Her keynote will be at 10:00 a.m. ET on May 28 in Keynote Room ABC at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center.

About GM’s Mikell Taylor

Mikell Taylor has spent 25 years making useful robots – from a robotic prom date to uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and cutting-edge industrial systems. She currently leads robotics strategy for the Autonomous Robotics Center at General Motors and previously led the Amazon Robotics team that developed Proteus, Amazon’s first autonomous mobile robot (AMR).

Taylor is passionate about building robots that are practical, reliable, and good partners for the people that work with and around them. She is a recognized leader in the Boston technology community and was named one of the Boston Globe Tech Power Players in 2023.

Outside of work, Mikell is on the board of Mbadika, a STEM non-profit focused on ideas and those who create them. She also coaches her eldest kid’s LEGO robotics team, where she commands far less respect than at her actual job. Taylor holds a BS in electrical and computer engineering from Olin College, where she was a member of its inaugural class of graduates.

Register now for the Robotics Summit & Expo

Registration is now open for the Robotics Summit & Expo, the world’s leading technical event for commercial robotics developers. The event is produced by The Robot Report and parent company WTWH Media.

The show will have more than 50 sessions in tracks on artificial intelligence, design and development, enabling technologies, healthcare, and logistics. The Engineering Theater on the show floor will also feature presentations by industry experts.

More than 70 speakers are confirmed from companies such as Amazon Robotics, AWS, Brain Corp, Fictiv, Harmonic Drive, maxon, PickNik Robotics, QNX, RealSense, the Robotics and AI Institute, Robust AI, Tesla, Toyota Research Institute, Universal Robots, and more.

The Robotics Summit will also feature a number of networking opportunities. Taylor will be speaking at the Women in Robotics Breakfast on Day 2. Other opportunities include a Mix & Mingle Networking Reception after the first day of the show and the ticketed RBR50 Awards Dinner.

The Robotics Summit & Expo is co-located with DeviceTalks Boston, which focuses on medical devices.