TechSurge: Deep Tech Podcast

For most of human history, space has been a place we visited. The next chapter may be about building there.For decades, space was the domain of governments, astronauts, and science fiction. Today, falling launch costs, reusable rockets, and a new generation of ambitious founders are turning orbit into something else entirely: a place to build. The question is no longer whether humanity can construct large-scale infrastructure in space, but what we should build first—and why.In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Vishwanath speaks with Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, Founder and CEO of Aurelia Institute, Research Affiliate at MIT’s Space Exploration Initiative, and founder of Rendezvous Robotics. Ariel has spent her career exploring one of the most fundamental challenges of the emerging space economy: how to build structures in orbit that are far larger than anything that can fit inside a rocket.Ariel explains the origins of TESSERAE, her pioneering work on autonomous self-assembling space architecture, and how ideas borrowed from biology, swarm intelligence, and modular construction could unlock a future of massive solar arrays, communications infrastructure, orbital laboratories, and eventually human habitats in space.The conversation explores the rapidly emerging market for in-orbit infrastructure, including AI data centers in space, space-based solar power, and the technologies needed to support a permanent industrial presence beyond Earth. Ariel breaks down the engineering realities behind these ideas—why cooling data centers in space is harder than most people assume, how autonomous assembly could solve the scale problem, and why the future of orbital infrastructure may look more like a business park than a collection of standalone satellites.Sriram and Ariel also discuss the broader implications of humanity’s return to space: the economics unlocked by reusable launch systems, the opportunities created by dramatically lower transportation costs, and the second-order innovations that may emerge from building an industrial ecosystem in orbit. Along the way, they examine space debris, stewardship of the orbital commons, artificial gravity, and what it will take to make long-term human habitation in space viable.At the heart of the discussion is Ariel’s belief that space is not an escape from Earth’s problems, but a tool for solving them. Whether through advanced manufacturing, new energy systems, biotechnology research, or entirely new industries, she argues that the next era of space exploration should be focused on improving life here at home.Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits and future episodes.Links:Ariel Ekblaw on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielekblawAurelia Institute:https://www.aureliainstitute.orgRendezvous Robotics:https://www.rdvrobotics.comMIT Space Exploration Initiative:https://www.media.mit.edu/groups/space-exploration/overview/How Aurelia is Designing Self-Assembling Space Stations: https://www.fastcompany.com/91242689/how-the-aurelia-institute-is-designing-a-self-assembling-space-stationOverview Energy (Space-Based Solar Power): https://www.overviewenergy.comStarCatcher Industries (Space-to-Space Power Transmission): https://www.starcatcherindustries.comImpulse Space (Orbital Transportation): https://www.impulsespace.comReferences Mentioned During the DiscussionEarthrise - The Apollo 8 Photograph: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/apollo-8-earthrise/Carl Sagan’s “Pale Blue Dot”: https://www.planetary.org/worlds/pale-blue-dotBuckminster Fuller Institute: https://www.bfi.orgWatch Ariel’s Talks & InterviewsAurelia Institute YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AureliaInstituteAriel’s TED Talk: https://youtu.be/IHrGK3Mu5K4?si=QwGHq1BEoB-QMUjkSpace Business Podcast - Self-Assembling Space Habitats with Ariel Ekblaw: https://spacebusiness.podbean.com/e/137-self-assembling-space-habitats-ariel-ekblaw-founder-ceo-aurelia-institute/Further ReadingNASA’s Artemis Program: https://www.nasa.gov/artemisInternational Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-stationAurelia Institute’s Vision for Humanity’s Future in Space: https://www.aureliainstitute.orgMIT News: Supporting Mission-Driven Space Innovation: https://news.mit.edu/2025/supporting-mission-driven-space-innovation-aurelia-institute-0710Timestamps:[00:00] Highlights[00:34] Welcome to the Episode[02:33] The New Space Race Begins[04:10] Meet Dr. Ariel Ekblaw[06:30] Why We Explore Space? [12:53] How She Discovered Self-Assembly at MIT [17:10] How TESSERAE Tiles Build Themselves[20:14] How the Tiles Coordinate Like a Swarm[24:47] Repairing and Reconfiguring Structures in Orbit[28:32] Why the Space Industry Is Exploding Now[34:25] The Case for AI Data Centers in Space[45:21] How Much Compute Will Move to Space?[48:40] Why This Space Era Is Different[52:24] The Growing Problem of Space Debris[55:14] Building the Next SpaceX[57:27] What Could Go Wrong in Space?[59:33 ] How Many Hours of Gravity Do Humans Need?[01:00:38] Why We Should Build in Low Earth Orbit First[01:05:09] Should We Really Colonize Mars?[01:11:27] Could You Commute to Space for Work?[01:13:50] Who Makes the Rules in Space?[01:22:30] What's Overhyped and Underhyped in Space[01:26:57]What's the Real Story in Space?

MIT President Emeritus Dr. Rafael Reif joins host Michael Marks for a discussion about the state of U.S. competitiveness in technology, university research funding, current immigration policy, and more. Reif explains why universities remain the innovation engines of economies, educating top talent and generating the foundational research that powers emerging tech and creates new industries. He candidly assesses U.S.-China competition, warns that Chinese research output is rapidly outpacing our own, and urges renewed federal investment. The discussion explores how restrictive immigration policies threaten the flow of global talent into the U.S and his own impression of current policies as an immigrant from Venezuela himself. As a TSMC board member, Reif also touches on the strategic need for domestic semiconductor fabs, Intel’s path forward, and TSMC’s edge in advancing cutting-edge nodes. Lastly, he addresses gaps in the venture capital funding space and why he created MIT’s The Engine incubator model to fund “tough tech” startups, which helped launch breakthroughs like Commonwealth Fusion Systems.If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits.Connect with Rafael Reif on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-rafael-rief-b8977b231Dive deeper into Reif’s career, publications, and awards. Read his full biography https://reif.mit.edu/biography Read Rafael's recent op-ed about government R&D funding: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/17/opinion/science-technology-research-development/Read Rafael's speech about the role of universities in building a strong U.S. economy: https://reif.mit.edu/speeches-writing/strong-universities-make-strong-united-statesExplore how MIT’s Engine incubator is fueling “tough tech” startups like fusion power. Learn about The Engine https://engine.xyz/Watch Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ plan to deliver commercial fusion energy. Discover CFS https://cfs.energy/Understand the roadmap to a 400 MW fusion pilot plant. Read the MIT News report https://news.mit.edu/2024/commonwealth-fusion-systems-unveils-worlds-first-fusion-power-plant-1217

In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan sits down with Charlie Giancarlo, Chairman and CEO of Pure Storage, to discuss the evolution and future of data storage in the digital age. Charlie shares insights from his career spanning his pivotal role in Cisco's success as a networking pioneer, to his leadership in transforming Pure Storage into a leader in innovative storage solutions.They explore the evolution of data center infrastructure, and the critical role of storage architecture in enabling AI and cloud technologies. Charlie also explains how Pure Storage's software-driven approach is creating new efficiencies and opportunities for enterprises, offering a compelling vision for a unified "data cloud" that breaks down data silos and unlocks new insights.This episode delves into the intersections of networking, compute, storage, and AI, providing an essential perspective for anyone interested in the future of technology infrastructure.If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits.Links:Pure Storage Official Website: Explore Pure Storage's innovative data storage solutions. Pure Storage DataCharlie Giancarlo's Biography: Learn more about Charlie Giancarlo, Chairman and CEO of Pure Storage. ​Charlie GiancarloPortworx by Pure Storage: Discover Portworx, the Kubernetes data services platform acquired by Pure Storage. ​Wikipedia Portworx ASBIS – IT DistributorFlashBlade//EXA Announcement: Read about Pure Storage's FlashBlade//EXA, designed for high-performance computing and AI workloads. FlashBlade//EXA: The Future of AI and HPC Storage Performance

Artificial intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace—what does that mean for the future of technology, venture capital, business, and even our understanding of ourselves? Award-winning journalist and writer Anil Ananthaswamy joins us for our latest episode to discuss his latest book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI.Anil helps us explore the journey and many breakthroughs that have propelled machine learning from simple perceptrons to the sophisticated algorithms shaping today’s AI revolution, powering GPT and other models. The discussion aims to demystify some of the underlying mathematical concepts that power modern machine learning, to help everyone grasp this technology impacting our lives–even if your last math class was in high school. Anil walks us through the power of scaling laws, the shift from training to inference optimization, and the debate among AI’s pioneers about the road to AGI—should we be concerned, or are we still missing key pieces of the puzzle? The conversation also delves into AI’s philosophical implications—could understanding how machines learn help us better understand ourselves? And what challenges remain before AI systems can truly operate with agency?If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits.Links:Read Why Machines Learn, Anil’s latest book on the math behind AIhttps://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749Learn more about Anil Ananthaswamy’s work and writinghttps://anilananthaswamy.com/Watch Anil Ananthaswamy’s TED Talk on AI and intelligencehttps://www.ted.com/speakers/anil_ananthaswamyDiscover the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship that shaped Anil’s AI researchhttps://ksj.mit.edu/Understand the Perceptron, the foundation of neural networkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PerceptronRead about the Perceptron Convergence Theorem and its significancehttps://www.nature.com/articles/323533a0 (00:00) - The Future of AI: Agency and Exponential Growth (01:03) - Introduction to Machine Learning and AI Concepts (04:50) - The Journey of Writing 'Why Machines Learn' (10:07) - Understanding the Perceptron and Its Significance (13:40) - The Evolution of Neural Networks and AI Winters (19:35) - Backpropagation: The Game Changer in Neural Networks (29:51) - Convolutional Neural Networks: Advancements in Image Recognition (35:20) - The Impact of Large Datasets on Machine Learning (38:12) - Understanding Perceptrons and SVMs (41:39) - The Impact of ImageNet on Machine Learning (44:44) - The Evolution of GPUs in AI (48:09) - Transformers: A New Era in Neural Networks (54:21) - The Exponential Growth of AI Models (01:01:21) - Diverging Views on AGI: Hinton vs. LeCun (01:05:08) - The Common Thread in Anil's Work (01:09:40) - Future Disruptions in AI and Machine Learning

The world is evolving faster than ever – how will we keep up?From AI breakthroughs to global supply chain disruptions, the forces shaping business and technology today are relentless. In this episode of the TechSurge Deep Tech VC Podcast, we sit down with Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company, the global consulting firm who has been on the frontlines of helping businesses and industries navigate relentless change for the past 100 years.We explore the shifting landscape of venture capital and opportunities for VCs, startups, and consultancies to explore new partnership models. Bob shares his view on shifting global supply chain strategies, why full economic decoupling between the U.S. and China is a dangerous and difficult proposition, and how India may be on track to become the economic powerhouse of the twenty-first century. The discussion digs into the complexities of housing affordability and why the future of housing insurance is at risk – could our homes of the future soon be uninsurable due to climate change?Bob helps us dive into the evolving demands of 21st-century leadership, where resilience, adaptability, and even humor are becoming essential CEO traits. Bob explains why today’s leaders must rethink their approach to disruption, risk, and innovation – or risk being left behind.If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and information about upcoming TechSurge Live Summits.Links:Check out our video episodes on YouTubeFollow Celesta Capital on LinkedIn and XLearn more about Bob Sternfels’ leadership at McKinsey & Companyhttps://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/bob-sternfelsExplore McKinsey’s insights on AI and economic disruptionhttps://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontierLearn how climate change is affecting insurance marketshttps://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/navigating-shifting-risks-in-the-insurance-industryLearn about India’s digital transformation through UPI and Aadhaarhttps://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/upi/product-overviewhttps://uidai.gov.in/ (00:00) - Introduction to Bob Sternfeld and McKinsey's Vision (06:49) - The Transformative Power of AI in Business (12:52) - Navigating the Complexities of Cloud and On-Prem Solutions (18:03) - Geopolitical Impacts on Global Supply Chains (23:18) - India's Economic Potential and Future Growth (24:13) - India's Rapid Digitization and Economic Transformation (28:20) - The Housing Crisis: Understanding Affordability and Community (38:13) - 21st Century Leadership: Evolving Traits and Challenges

In this episode, host Michael Marks dives into the transformative role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Michael is joined by Dr. Alex Sardiña of WhiteRabbit.ai and Kalyan Sivasilam of 5C Network, two early adopters bringing AI to medicine through sharply contrasting market models in the U.S. and India, respectively. The discussion unpacks how AI is revolutionizing diagnostics, helping to address labor shortages, and improving patient experiences. Learn about breakthroughs in cancer detection, radiology efficiency, regulatory challenges, and the global potential of AI-driven solutions in medicine. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare 02:01 AI Applications in Cancer Detection 04:56 Addressing Radiologist Shortages with AI 07:47 The Reality of AI in Medical Imaging 12:06 Data Acquisition and Its Challenges 16:25 The Future of Radiologists in an AI World 22:00 Improving Accuracy in Medical Imaging with AI 23:25 AI in Diagnostic Imaging 25:18 Building vs. Partnering in AI Healthcare 29:40 Navigating Regulatory Environments 34:23 The Role of Insurance in AI Adoption 39:39 Overcoming Hurdles for AI Acceptance 43:56 Competition and Innovation in AI Links https://www.5cnetwork.com/ https://www.whiterabbit.ai/ Keywords AI, healthcare, medical imaging, cancer detection, radiology, diagnostics, technology, healthcare investment, patient care, data acquisition, AI, healthcare, diagnostic imaging, regulatory environment, insurance, competition, innovation, technology, partnerships, patient care

Host Sriram Viswanathan speaks with Andy Lee and Anand Chandrasekaran from Crescendo AI about the transformative impact of AI on the customer service and call center industry. The conversation covers Crescendo's unique approach to integrating AI in business process outsourcing, the dynamics of the sector, and the potential future of human-AI collaboration. Discover how AI is poised to disrupt and enhance the BPO industry, and why Crescendo AI is at the forefront of this technological revolution. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Customer Service 02:48 Dynamics of the Contact Center Industry 06:09 Crescendo AI: Founders and Vision 08:58 AI's Impact on Customer Interactions 11:54 Technical Architecture of Crescendo AI 15:06 Market Strategy and Customer Experience 17:56 Scaling and Growth of Crescendo AI 21:03 Future of AI in Customer Service 24:00 Conclusion and Future Outlook Links https://crescendo.ai/ https://www.alorica.com/ https://www.generalcatalyst.com/