Deep Learning vs Rules-Based Vision

This conversation was originally released in February of 2025. We’re replaying this episode because Cognex sits right at the intersection of AI and robotics. As the market focuses more on physical AI and automation in 2026, machine vision is becoming an increasingly important part of that story.

Today we are breaking down Cognex, the leader in machine vision. Cognex builds the cameras, sensors, and software that allow factories and logistics systems to see. Their technology inspects products, detects defects, reads barcodes, and guides robots across manufacturing lines and warehouses around the world.

Cognex is not your typical recurring revenue story. It is a cyclical industrial business that has grown by repeatedly finding new “S-curves” in automation. From early semiconductor inspection to modern logistics systems and AI-driven vision, the company has spent decades expanding the applications of machine vision across industries.

Our guest today is Brett Larson from NZS Capital. Brett walks us through the history of machine vision, Cognex’s unique culture and founder story, and the company’s position inside the broader automation ecosystem. We also discuss how Cognex sells into factories, the competitive dynamics with companies like Keyence, and why new technologies like deep learning could unlock the next wave of growth.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. 

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Sponsor: Portrait Analytics

(00:01:42) Update on Cognex 

(00:02:53) Welcome to Business Breakdowns 

(00:03:41) Episode Intro 

(00:05:09) What is Cognex and What They Do 

(00:07:10) Hardware vs Software and Human Interaction 

(00:07:58) Market Size of Machine Vision 

(00:08:59) Cognex's Market Share and Positioning 

(00:13:01) Sales Channels and Customer Types 

(00:14:17) History and Origin of Cognex 

(00:17:49) Deep Learning vs Rules-Based Programming Examples 

(00:22:18) Customer Stickiness and Sales Contracts 

(00:27:41) Understanding S-Curves and CapEx Cycles 

(00:29:35) Culture and Leadership 

(00:40:08) Valuation and Risks 

(00:44:42) Key Lessons from Cognex