The Neuron: AI Explained

Karina Hong, a Stanford dropout and founder of Axiom Math, is on a mission to create a self-improving mathematical reasoning AI. She reveals how her team tackled a 130-year-old problem and disproved a longstanding conjecture, showcasing the power of math as a foundation for fields like coding and finance. Karina discusses the challenges of auto-formalizing proofs and highlights Axiom's vision of an IDE co-pilot that aids researchers and traders alike. The exciting intersection of neuroscience and AI is explored, promising a revolutionary leap in mathematical discovery.

Nick Talken, CEO of Albert Invent, shares his journey from a trailer lab to revolutionizing R&D with AI. The conversation reveals how their AI model, trained on 15 million molecular structures, accelerates research at major companies like Kenvue, reducing timelines from three months to just two days. Nick discusses the unique challenges of chemistry for AI applications, the importance of domain-specific models, and the role of scientists in guiding AI. He also highlights the significance of data sharing and the potential for democratizing materials invention.

Sam Liang, Co-founder and CEO of Otter.ai, previously developed the 'blue dot' for Google Maps. In this conversation, he shares how Otter evolved from a simple transcription tool to an AI-driven meeting agent. Sam discusses the necessity of capturing meeting data to improve ROI and prevent knowledge loss. He introduces the Otter Workspace, which organizes meetings like Slack channels and explains how AI can proactively contribute during calls. The importance of privacy controls and the technical challenges of voice understanding are also key highlights of their chat.

Pavan Davuluri, Corporate VP of Microsoft's Windows + Devices, shares his insights on transforming Windows into an AI-native platform. He discusses the deep integration of Copilot into Windows and the balancing act between powerful automation and user control. Pavan presents a future where cloud and on-device AI coalesce, enhancing familiar workflows with innovations like voice interaction and intelligent troubleshooting. He emphasizes designing with user value in mind, all while reflecting on Windows' rich 40-year legacy and its evolution towards a hybrid AI computing experience.

Tim Davis, Co-founder and President of Modular and former Google Brain engineer, dives into the revolution in AI infrastructure that his company is spearheading. He discusses the challenges of AI being tied to costly, vendor-specific hardware and introduces Modular's approach to creating a flexible compute layer. Tim highlights the impressive 70-80% cost reductions businesses can achieve and the need for a unified software stack to boost hardware competition. He also shares insights on modular programming and the importance of low-latency inference for real-world applications.

In this conversation, Scott Guthrie, EVP of Microsoft's Cloud + AI Group, shares insights from his 28 years at Microsoft. He discusses the innovative Fairwater AI datacenter designs, boasting the densest GPU concentrations globally. Scott reveals how Microsoft balances performance and sustainability in infrastructure. Topics include the integration of AI agents across various platforms, the significance of observability for operational success, and the commitment to 100% renewable energy for Azure datacenters. This dialogue teases the future of AI and the transformative potential of next-gen infrastructure.

David Hsu, CEO of Retool, dives into the exciting shift where 48% of non-engineers are now shipping production software. He discusses how AI is democratizing software development, predicting that engineers may stop coding internal apps entirely within the next 18-24 months. David highlights insights from Retool's survey of over 10,000 companies and introduces AppGen, a platform empowering business users to create applications effortlessly. He also shares the importance of internal tools and how they represent the biggest opportunity in the development landscape.

Caspar Eliot, an executive at Invisible Technologies, uncovers the human side of AI training, revealing that 80% of top models rely on a dedicated workforce. He explains how models learn through curated data, not just online scraping, and discusses the critical importance of data quality over quantity. The conversation delves into common enterprise mistakes in AI deployment and speculates on the future of jobs—emphasizing that while automation changes roles, human skills will remain indispensable. Expect insights on unconventional job backgrounds and the rising demand for human data expertise.

Ely Greenfield, Adobe's Chief Technology Officer, shares insights from Adobe Max 2025. He explains the excitement over simple features like AI-driven layer renaming that save time. Ely emphasizes Adobe's 'additive, not subtractive' AI philosophy, focusing on enhancing creative control. He discusses useful tools such as Harmonize and auto-masking in Premiere Pro. With Firefly evolving into a central hub, Adobe aims to support both professionals and casual creators, ensuring AI acts as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for human artistry.

Logan Lawler, who leads Dell Pro Max AI solutions and hosts the Reshaping Workflows podcast, dives into the evolving landscape of AI in personal computing. He clarifies the difference between GPUs and NPUs, discussing their roles in heavy processing and local AI tasks. Logan emphasizes why professionals should invest in both for future-proofing, shares insights on local model advantages, and highlights the importance of experimenting with AI tools. He also forecasts hardware trends and argues for the value of open-source resources in AI development.