What's Your Problem?

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.

This week, Nate and Maria discuss AI 2027, a new report from the AI Futures Project that lays out some pretty doom-y scenarios for our near-term AI future. They talk about how likely humans are to be misled by rogue AI, and whether current conflicts between the US and China will affect the way this all unfolds. Plus, Nate talks about the feedback he gave the AI 2027 writers after reading an early draft of their forecast, and reveals what he sees as the report’s central flaw. Enjoy this episode from Risky Business, another Pushkin podcast. The AI Futures Project’s AI 2027 scenario: https://ai-2027.com/ 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.

Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, dives into the ambitious quest to create a commercial supersonic airplane. He shares insights on the historical journey of air travel speed, tackling the lessons learned from the Concorde and Apollo missions. Blake humorously navigates the challenges of designing such aircraft, discussing engine advancements, funding strategies, and regulatory hurdles. He emphasizes how faster travel can strengthen human connections, along with reflecting on the exhilarating challenges of entrepreneurship and innovation in aviation.

Fiorenzo Omenetto, a Tufts University Professor and director of Silklab, dives into the intriguing world of silk innovation. He reveals how this ancient material can revolutionize modern medicine, from silk-based microneedle patches for vaccine delivery to breakthroughs in tissue engineering. The conversation also touches on silk's role in food preservation and its transformative applications in technology. Discover how this age-old fiber is reshaping diverse industries while weaving together science, entrepreneurship, and cultural reflections.