Core Memory

Coinbase CEO and co-founder Brian Armstrong joins the pod to discuss crypto, crypto, crypto.Well, not really.Everyone asks Armstrong about crypto all the time, so we decided to head in a different direction and focus on his life and his interests around very cutting-edge science. Armstrong, for example, co-founded and backed New Limit, which is working on therapies to reverse the damage of aging. (We’ll have a Core Memory video episode on them soon.)He’s also been on X talking about the Gattaca Stack. This is his vision of the IVF clinic of the future in which people can make eggs from skin cells and do all sorts of gene editing on embryos either to thwart diseases or even give babies some enhancements. And he sees these babies coming to life in artificial wombs.Let’s get weird, y’all. As Coinbase CEO, Armstrong has been to known to generate controversy now and again with some strongly held views on politics in the workplace and on the Feds. The press has not taken kindly to Armstrong at times for said views, and we get into that as well.If you listen to this and need you some more Brian Armstrong, there’s a great documentary on him and Coinbase called Coin.And now on with the show. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.corememory.com/subscribe

Chris Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Astra Space, dives into the highs and lows of rocket manufacturing. He discusses Astra's bold strategy to mass-produce rockets and the recent $80 million investment that has repositioned the company for success. Kemp envisions rapid drone deployments via rockets, revolutionizing military logistics. He humorously reflects on his experiences with media and shares insights on the challenges of transitioning from public to private ownership. The conversation opens a window into the future of space access and innovation.

Dwarkesh Patel, a prominent podcaster and co-author of "The Scaling Era: An Oral History of AI," dives into the world of AI with captivating insights. He discusses the transformative implications of AI advancements on the economy and human society. Sharing experiences from his interviews, he highlights the necessity for balanced perspectives in understanding technology's evolution. Patel also reflects on his upbringing, the transition from computer science to podcasting, and the vital role of mentorship in shaping voices within the podcasting landscape.

A few years ago, I caught wind that Sergey Brin had started funding an airship start-up called LTA (Lighter Than Air) Research.After hitting up some sources, I came to learn that the man heading up the airship venture was Dr. Alan Weston. And, after digging around some more, I came to learn that Dr. Alan Weston had lived an extraordinary life.Among many other things, Weston performed the earliest bungee jumps while a member of the Dangerous Sports Club at Oxford. He later built space weapons as part of the Star Wars effort under Ronald Reagan. Then, while at NASA, Weston led a team making a super low-cost lunar lander. (The story of that project is documented in When The Heavens Went on Sale.)Post NASA, Weston began constructing airships for Brin in a hangar on the NASA Ames campus.Few people have experienced such a range of engineering adventures and fewer still have such knowledge about the aerospace industry. This is to say you’re going to enjoy the chat with Weston.Also, this podcast comes with breaking news. We can report that Al Weston has left his post as CEO of LTA and now leads up rocket development at Astra. He’ll be looking to get the company’s Rocket 4 into orbit soon.(We recored this before our video podcast era started and before Weston joined Astra. It’s also possible I called this Episode 2. Fear not. It’s Episode 10.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.corememory.com/subscribe

Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink and CEO of Science Corp, dives into the intriguing world of brain-computer interfaces. He discusses the revolutionary work in restoring vision through retinal prostheses and the wild concept of lab-grown neurons. The conversation touches on the philosophical implications of naming his company 'Science Corp' to make science relatable. Hodak also explores the future possibilities of BCIs, including enhancing human communication, while sharing his optimistic vision for innovation in Silicon Valley and beyond.

For the past decade, the scientist Suzanne Gildert has been working to imbue robots and AIs with new skills. She co-founded a pair of start-ups - Kindred and Sanctuary AI - that strove to add intelligence to robotic arms and bodies. The results were robotic arms that could do factory work at Kindred and then an upscaled, much weirder version of the technology at Sanctuary.In the background, Gildert spent much of her time longing to really bring robots and AIs to life. She’s been an advocate of a very sci-fi future where humans and androids go about the world alongside each other and share in their day-to-day lives. Gildert has pined for a future in which our metal companions have thoughts and feelings that resemble ours.Her latest start-up - Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies Inc. - is an attempt to bring those hopes and dreams to fruition. Gildert contends that current AI systems based on large language models are likely too limited to result in consciousness (or something like it) arising. Her theory is that the roots of consciousness may actually come from AI models derived from the quantum realm where physics gets funkier.Gildert will forever be better than I am at explaining her hypothesis. So get comfy, open your mind and have a listen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.corememory.com/subscribe

Join veteran tech journalist John Markoff, whose reports have shaped our understanding of Silicon Valley, as he shares stories from his remarkable career. He reflects on the intertwined origins of tech culture and psychedelics, examining how creativity has thrived in past countercultures. Markoff also discusses the shifting landscape of innovation, contrasting bold ideas of the past with today's focus on short-term gains. Dive into the evolving political dynamics within tech and how AI is redefining the industry, highlighting lessons from history.

Several years ago, KFC did something ridiculous. It hired a giant, stratospheric balloon maker called World View to put its Zinger Chicken sandwich into space. Or at least near space. This was an expensive, showy endeavor and no less than Rob Lowe came on as a new Colonel Sanders-cum-Mission Control Lead for the stunt. Ultimately, the sandwich did not go quite as high as KFC wanted, but, still, I was entertained. A young man named Andrew Antonio helped drive much of World View’s marketing for the space sandwich. And he became something of a stratospheric balloon guru in the process. He’s now the CEO of Urban Sky, a maker of smallish balloons that can be launched in a matter of minutes and, just as impressively, the guest on this episode of the Core Memory pod. We, of course, talk about the KFC happening and about putting humans, cameras, sensors and all kinds of things into the stratosphere. Antonio’s dream is to have the stratosphere filled with balloons performing useful tasks. As you might expect, China and Russia share in these ambitions. Enjoy the show. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.corememory.com/subscribe

Dina Radenkovic, a Serbian-born doctor and co-founder of Gameto, is on a mission to revolutionize women’s reproductive health. She discusses how her start-up is using stem cell technology to significantly reduce the discomfort and time associated with IVF treatments. Gameto’s product, Fertilo, helps mature eggs outside the body in days instead of weeks. The conversation also delves into future applications of this tech for menopause and the need for greater research in women’s health. Radenkovic shares her journey in bridging medicine and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we’re joined by the test pilot Elliot Seguin to learn what it’s like to put your life on the line on a regular basis. Unlike most of the people in his profession, Seguin did not do the whole Top Gun-style military training. He earned his status as a test pilot the hard way by putting in the hours flying all kinds of aircraft and convincing people to give him a go in their birds. He’s an engineer. A racer. And a brave and possibly nuts soul. We talk with Seguin about the test pilot lifestyle, his career and The Mojave. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.corememory.com/subscribe