This Week in Startups

AI’s Next Leap: Hyper-Realistic Agents & Unlimited Power | E2094

Mar 7, 2025

Benj Conway, CEO of Zap Energy, discusses how their innovative Z-Pinch fusion technology could unlock unlimited clean energy to power AI advancements. Meanwhile, Nikola Mrkšić, CEO of PolyAI, explores the revolution in customer service through ultra-realistic conversational AI agents. They delve into the immense energy demands of emerging AI technologies and the potential of fusion energy in addressing these needs, promising a future where amazing AI capabilities are sustainably supported by groundbreaking energy solutions.

48:42

Creator website

Episode guests

Nikola Mrkšić

Benj Conway

AI Summary

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Zap Energy's breakthrough in fusion power technology leverages innovative Z-Pinch methods to provide potentially unlimited clean energy for AI advancement.

PolyAI is revolutionizing customer service with conversational AI, achieving 90% automation of customer calls while enhancing operational efficiency.

The growing competitive landscape in conversational AI highlights the importance of integrating technology with practical business operations to streamline customer engagement.

Deep dives

Fusion Energy Advancements

The discussion highlights the transformative potential of fusion energy through Zap Energy’s innovative Z-Pinch technology. Z-Pinch utilizes electric current to stabilize plasma, a process initially abandoned over 70 years ago due to instability issues. By integrating shear flow to better manage the plasma's compression, Zap can maintain stable conditions up to 10,000 times longer than traditional methods. This advancement holds promise for achieving commercially viable fusion power much sooner than expected, potentially changing the future of energy production.

Intro

2min

Revolutionizing Fusion: The Z-Pinch Approach

8min

Harnessing AI and the Future of Energy Innovations

2min

Harnessing Fusion Energy: The Century Project

8min

Simplifying Website Creation with Innovative Tools

2min

Fusion Power and AI Innovations

8min

Understanding Neural Networks and Streamlining Startup Operations

3min

Advancements in Speech Recognition Systems

6min

The Evolution and Market Growth of AI Technology

2min

10.

Navigating AI Integration in Enterprises

9min

Today’s show: AI is evolving at lightning speed—smarter assistants, faster models, and now, the massive energy demands that come with it. In this episode, Alex dives into two cutting-edge companies from the TWIST 500 that are shaping AI’s future in very different ways. First, Alex interviews Zap Energy, where CEO Benj Conway explains how their breakthrough fusion power technology could provide unlimited, clean energy to fuel AI and beyond. Then, we talk to PolyAI, where CEO Nikola Mrkšić shares how their conversational AI is revolutionizing customer service with ultra-realistic, human-like voice assistants. If you're excited about where AI is headed—from hyper-realistic agents to a future powered by fusion—this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Timestamps:

(0:00) AI's impact on business and technology; Fusion technology; AI powered voice assistants(1:51) Power demands of AI; Fusion energy's potential and commercialization(6:50) Zap Energy's approach to scaling and efficiency in fusion(9:58) Oracle. Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist(12:11) Zap Energy's Sentry project and the future of fusion power(18:02) Competition in fusion development and importance of liquid metal walls(20:10) Squarespace. Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(21:38) Thermal management in fusion energy and Zap Energy's milestones(24:19) PolyAI's CEO on conversational AI and generative AI(28:39) Founding PolyAI and advancements in AI technology(30:30) Atlassian. Head to https://www.atlassian.com/software/startups to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.(32:30) PolyAI's technology stack and deep learning advancements(39:13) Growth, competitive landscape, and AI's impact on employment(46:16) Startups M&A in applied AI and conclusion with Nikola Mrkšić*

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Links from the show:

Check out Zap Energy: https://www.zapenergy.com/

Check out Poly AI: https://poly.ai/

Follow Benj Conway:

X: https://x.com/Energy_Zap

Follow Nikola Mrkšić:

X: https://x.com/nikola_mrksic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikola-mrksic

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

Thank you to our partners:

(9:58) Oracle. Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist(20:10) Squarespace. Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(30:30) Atlassian. Head to https://www.atlassian.com/software/startups to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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