What's Your Problem?

Jakob Uszkoreit, CEO and co-founder of Inceptive and co-author of the transformative paper on AI, discusses the groundbreaking role that transformer models play in modern technology. He dives into how these models revolutionize language processing and explores their application in predicting protein structures. Jakob highlights the potential of AI in developing new RNA-based medical therapies, particularly inspired by the efficacy of mRNA vaccines during the COVID pandemic. His insights on the future of medicine showcase an exciting intersection of AI and healthcare.

Nan Ransohoff, the head of climate at Stripe and Frontier, revolutionizes the carbon removal industry with a bold $1 billion commitment. She discusses how economic strategies can motivate companies to invest in sustainable technologies beyond tree planting. Delving into the innovative models akin to those in vaccine development, Nan highlights the importance of establishing a stable market for carbon solutions. The conversation reveals the blend of finance, innovation, and ethical considerations fueling the push for effective environmental strategies.

Megan O’Connor, co-founder and CEO of Nth Cycle, discusses revolutionizing battery recycling and the need for sustainable energy solutions. She shares insights on innovative technologies for refining and recycling critical metals like nickel and cobalt. The conversation dives into the challenges startups face in securing funding for green technologies and the importance of sustainable supply chains. O’Connor also reflects on her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, blending her passion for chemistry with her leadership role in a rapidly evolving industry.

Greg Piefer, co-founder of Shine, dives into the transformational world of fusion energy. He highlights the promise of fusion as a future energy source, while discussing his unique strategy of targeting profitable markets first, such as medical isotope production. Piefer shares insights on overcoming technical and economic challenges, and the potential for fusion to lead to groundbreaking advancements in healthcare and beyond. He also touches on the exciting possibilities of using fusion technology for space exploration.

Rebecca Hu Thrams, co-founder and CEO of Glacier, brings her expertise in AI and robotics to tackle the chaotic world of recycling. She boldly calls recycling 'the most demented form of manufacturing' and explores how technology can enhance sorting efficiency while addressing labor shortages. The discussion also highlights the challenges of automation, such as developing computer vision for recycling robots. Rebecca breaks down myths like 'wish cycling' and emphasizes the need for stable markets for recycled materials in a shifting legislative landscape.

Josh Batson, a research scientist at Anthropic with a Ph.D. in math from MIT, dives into the complexities of AI models. He discusses the alarming lack of understanding surrounding AI operations and stresses the need for interpretability to avoid ethical pitfalls. The conversation highlights the intriguing role of features in AI’s decision-making and the risks of 'jailbreaking' models. Batson also compares AI systems to biological functions, shedding light on the evolving landscape of language understanding and the challenges ahead in ensuring AI's safety and transparency.

Chelsea Finn, a Stanford professor and co-founder of Physical Intelligence, dives into the fascinating world of teaching robots to perform everyday tasks. She discusses the current limitations of AI in manipulating objects, even for simple chores like laundry folding. Chelsea emphasizes the complexities of training AI models, mentioning a case study on the Pi 0.5 model for household tasks. The conversation also covers the delicate balance between generalist and specialized robots, the ethics of robotics, and the importance of tactile feedback in robot design.

Jacob Glanville is a bioengineer and immunologist, and the founder of Centivax, on a mission to create a universal flu vaccine. They dive into the urgency of developing a vaccine that can protect against all flu strains, even future mutations. Glanville discusses innovative research techniques and collaborative efforts to tackle the challenges in vaccine technology. He also highlights the potential impacts on global health and the broader fight against pandemics, sharing insights on fundraising hurdles faced in the biotech industry.

Alex Wiltschko, co-founder and CEO of Osmo, started out as an AI researcher at Google before combining his childhood passion for perfume with cutting-edge technology. He discusses how Osmo is teaching computers to smell, with potential applications in diagnosing diseases and enhancing security. The conversation also delves into the exciting fusion of AI and fragrance creation, highlighting the innovative perfume line, Generation. Wiltschko shares personal scent experiences and the emotional intricacies linked to our olfactory preferences.

Nick Jacobson and his team at Dartmouth medical school spent over 100,000 hours trying to build an AI chatbot that can serve as a safe, effective therapist. After a few false starts, they seem to be on to something.Note: This episode contains references to self harm. Get early, ad-free access to episodes of What's Your Problem? by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.