The Moonshot Podcast
X, The Moonshot Factory
What if the keys to solve the world’s hardest problems – food security, energy resilience, the digital divide – were already within our grasp?Welcome to The Moonshot Podcast, where we go behind the scenes at X, The Moonshot Factory, to celebrate 15 years of Google’s innovation laboratory. Hosted by Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots, this series gives you unprecedented access to the radical ideas and fearless inventors working to build a future we want to live in.Explore real-world moonshots—from self-driving cars to AI-powered disaster prediction—and discover the messy, exhilarating journey of creating breakthrough technologies with the potential to reshape our world. Some ideas will succeed. Some will fail. But every moonshot moves us forward.Subscribe now to The Moonshot Podcast, a Blanchard House production for X, The Moonshot Factory.
Episodes
Mentioned books
28 snips
Mar 24, 2025 • 46min
Episode 3: Machines That Think – The AI Moonshot
Benoît Schillings, a former CTO at X and VP of research at Google DeepMind, and Olivia Hatalsky, a Director at Google DeepMind, share insights into the transformative power of AI. They discuss the inception and evolution of Google Brain, revealing its impact on deep learning and coding. The conversation highlights Project Ada, an AI designed to simplify coding, and the potential of AI to revolutionize innovation across various sectors. Their perspectives shed light on the exciting possibilities and challenges of integrating AI into everyday problem-solving.
13 snips
Mar 17, 2025 • 48min
Episode 2: Essential Connections
Mahesh Krishnaswamy, a key player at X focused on affordable internet access, and Nick Kohli, a creative force at X's Moonshot Factory, share their groundbreaking insights. They delve into Loon's daring high-altitude balloon project and its legacy in Taara, which employs light beams for connectivity. Expect amusing tales of balloon mishaps, unconventional challenges like monkeys disrupting setups, and the bold mission to enhance internet accessibility in Africa, especially across the Congo River. Their passion for tackling connectivity issues shines through!
28 snips
Mar 10, 2025 • 54min
Episode 1: Driving The Future
Sebastian Thrun, co-founder of X and a pioneer in self-driving technology, teams up with Andre Prager, chief engineer at Wing, who has long been passionate about aviation. They recount the incredible journey of self-driving cars and drone deliveries, from skepticism to reality. The conversation dives into the transformative impact of autonomous vehicles on urban mobility and logistics, touching upon regulatory hurdles and community engagement. They also explore the ethical responsibilities of innovation, emphasizing collaboration for societal benefits.
Feb 26, 2025 • 1min
The Moonshot Podcast Trailer
Premiering March 10th! The Moonshot Podcast chronicles the untold stories of innovation - both highs and lows - from 15 years inside Google’s Moonshot Factory. Go behind the scenes with the inventors and creators exploring the huge problems, radical solutions and breakthrough technologies that have the potential to reshape our world. Self-driving cars, superhuman hearing, robots, drone delivery, wildfire prediction and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
