Inevitable

Philip Johnston, co-founder and CEO of Starcloud, is pioneering orbital data centers to tackle the power challenges plaguing AI. He discusses launching the first NVIDIA H100 GPU into orbit, explaining how continuous solar power and vacuum cooling can revolutionize computing. Johnston also highlights SpaceX's role in making space more accessible and the efficiency of space-based solar arrays. He delves into operational constraints and near-term applications, emphasizing the potential of low-latency inference for Earth observation.

Kurt Terrani, CEO of Standard Nuclear and an expert in nuclear fuels, dives deep into the often-overlooked world of TRISO fuel, essential for advanced reactors. He explains the nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium processing to TRISO's unique resilience and economic impact on reactor safety and scalability. Discussing the transition from vertically integrated fuel strategies to flexible suppliers, Kurt shares insights from Standard Nuclear's journey post-Chapter 11 and stresses the importance of standardizing fuel specs to accelerate nuclear technology deployment.

Aleks Gampel, COO and co-founder of Cuby, discusses innovative approaches to tackle the housing crisis. He highlights the use of mobile microfactories that produce home components locally, drastically reducing costs and carbon emissions. Aleks explains the failures of past prefab models and the inefficiencies of centralized gigafactories. He shares insights on creating unskilled local jobs and how Cuby's design aims for resilience and affordability. With plans for expanding into multifamily housing, he envisions a transformative future for construction.

Carrie von Muench, COO and co-founder of Pacific Fusion, discusses her journey from skepticism to driving innovation in fusion energy. She highlights recent breakthroughs, such as the National Ignition Facility's ignition, that shifted fusion from theory to a tangible engineering challenge. Carrie explains the unique financing model for fusion, details their modular pulsed-magnetic system, and outlines the ambitious goal of achieving net facility gain by 2030. She also shares insights on the strategic global race in fusion development and the significance of their New Mexico facility.

Alex Modin, CEO and co-founder of Unlimited Industries, is revolutionizing infrastructure development with AI-driven automation. He discusses the challenges faced by traditional engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms in handling first-of-a-kind projects. Alex explains how Unlimited leverages AI to explore design permutations, cut costs, and accelerate project timelines. He believes the future lies in fully autonomous construction, enabled by their innovative capital projects platform, which aims to enhance efficiency and drive climate initiatives.

Trey Lauderdale, CEO and founder of Atomic Canyon, brings a fresh approach from healthcare tech to the nuclear energy sector. He discusses how deploying generative AI can address workforce shortages and accelerate new reactor deployment. Trey tackles common myths about nuclear safety and highlights the economic benefits of nuclear power. He shares insights on navigating regulatory challenges while illustrating Atomic Canyon's innovative AI applications, including a groundbreaking on-site system designed to streamline operations and enhance document search efficiency.

Boris Sofman, CEO and co-founder of Bedrock Robotics and a former Waymo engineering leader, dives into transforming construction with AI-powered heavy machinery. He shares insights on the urgent need for autonomy in tackling labor shortages and improving efficiency in construction sites. Sofman discusses innovative same-day upfitting of existing machines, predominantly focusing on excavators, and emphasizes the elimination of teleoperation for a fully autonomous future. His vision aims to reshape the construction industry, enhancing safety and productivity.

Chase Lochmiller, CEO and co-founder of Crusoe, a company innovating clean AI infrastructure, shares his journey from MIT athlete to climate entrepreneur. He discusses the remarkable 1.2 GW Abilene project, emphasizing an energy-first approach to AI data centers. Chase reflects on how mountaineering influenced Crusoe’s core values and explores the intersection of AI and energy production. He predicts AI could reshape labor markets and enhance societal productivity while addressing the need for regulatory measures to mitigate risks.

Juliann Edwards, Chief Development Officer at The Nuclear Company and a leader in U.S. Women in Nuclear, shares her insights on the resurgence of nuclear energy in America. She discusses the challenges of recent builds like Vogtle, China's rapid nuclear expansion, and the potential of AI in optimizing operations. Juliann reveals how fleet-scale deployments can drive down costs and emphasizes the importance of community engagement in shifting public perceptions about nuclear. She also highlights the unique role of hyperscalers in the future energy landscape.

In this discussion, Steve Oldham, CEO of Captura and former leader at Carbon Engineering, reveals cutting-edge Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology that efficiently extracts CO₂ from seawater. He explains the advantages of utilizing oceans over air, including a no-waste closed-loop process. Oldham delves into deployment strategies—from onshore plants to barge systems—and emphasizes using renewable energy. He also addresses policy gaps in carbon crediting and the significant potential for ocean deacidification while outlining Captura's impressive pilot progress in Hawaii.