First Principles with Christian Keil Podcast

First Principles with Christian Keil

The Deep View
On First Principles, Christian Keil, Host and Chief of Staff at Astranis, dives into the heart of innovation, making the complex world of deep tech startups approachable without needing a PhD.
#3: Extropic: Why Thermodynamic Computing is the Future of AI (PUBLIC DEBUT)
Episode 3: Extropic is building a new kind of computer – not classical bits, nor quantum qubits, but a secret, more complex third thing. They call it a Thermodynamic Computer, and it might be many orders of magnitude more powerful than even the most powerful supercomputers today. Check out their “litepaper” to learn more: https://www.extropic.ai/future.======(00:00) - Intro(00:41) - Guillaume's Background(02:40) - Trevor's Background(04:02) - What is Extropic Building? High-Level Explanation(07:07) - Frustrations with Quantum Computing and Noise(10:08) - Scaling Digital Computers and Thermal Noise Challenges(13:20) - How Digital Computers Run Sampling Algorithms Inefficiently(17:27) - Limitations of Gaussian Distributions in ML(20:12) - Why GPUs are Good at Deep Learning but Not Sampling(23:05) - Extropic's Approach: Harnessing Noise with Thermodynamic Computers(28:37) - Bounding the Noise: Not Too Noisy, Not Too Pristine(31:10) - How Thermodynamic Computers Work: Inputs, Parameters, Outputs(37:14) - No Quantum Coherence in Thermodynamic Computers(41:37) - Gaining Confidence in the Idea Over Time(44:49) - Using Superconductors and Scaling to Silicon(47:53) - Thermodynamic Computing vs Neuromorphic Computing(50:51) - Disrupting Computing and AI from First Principles(52:52) - Early Applications in Low Data, Probabilistic Domains(54:49) - Vast Potential for New Devices and Algorithms in AI's Early Days(57:22) - Building the Next S-Curve to Extend Moore's Law for AI(59:34) - The Meaning and Purpose Behind Extropic's Mission(01:04:54) - Call for Talented Builders to Join Extropic(01:09:34) - Putting Ideas Out There and Creating Value for the Universe(01:11:35) - Conclusion and Wrap-Up======Links:Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleGuillaume Verd - https://twitter.com/GillVerdBeff Jezos - https://twitter.com/BasedBeffJezosTrevor McCourt - https://twitter.com/trevormccrt1First Principles:Gaussian Distribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distributionEnergy-Based Models: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-based_modelShannon’s Theorem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noisy-channel_coding_theorem======Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]======Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9🔔 Follow to stay updated with new uploads
Mar 12
1 hr 12 min
#2: Casey Handmer - Pulling Methane From Thin Air (Terraform Industries)
Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% offDeleteMe international Plans: https://international.joindeleteme.com======Episode 2: Casey Handmer, the polymath founder and CEO of Terraform Industries, explains the first principles behind his idea to synthesize hydrocarbons (starting with natural gas, or methane) from the atmosphere.======(00:00) - Intro(00:56) - What Terraform Industries is Building(02:00) - Casey's Background as an Engineer(04:15) - Why Synthetic Hydrocarbons are an Urgent Need(06:30) - The Importance of Hydrocarbons(10:40) - Terraform's Process for Synthetic Methane(13:57) - Cheap Solar Energy is the Key Enabler(18:05) - How the World Captures and Uses Electricity(21:00) - Why Use Solar Energy to Make Hydrocarbons(24:51) - How Is This Possible?(28:23) - Learning Curve Effects on Solar Cost Declines(31:00) - Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act(34:50) - Why Is Lower Solar Efficiency Okay?(37:35) - How the Direct Air Capture Process Works(46:54) - The Sabatier Reaction(51:07) - Path to Commercialization and End-to-End Demo(52:52) - Deploying Alongside Existing Natural Gas Infrastructure(54:49) - Expansion into Synthetic Fuels and Beyond(56:20) - Final Thoughts======Links:Terraform - https://terraformindustries.com/Casey Handmer - https://twitter.com/CJHandmerChristian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle“How to Industrialize Mars”: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/how-to-industrialize-mars/Terraform Industries White Paper: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2023/01/09/terraform-industries-whitepaper-2-0/First Principles:Sabatier Reaction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabatier_reactionEnergy Density: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_densityPhotovoltaic Cells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellDirect Air Capture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_air_captureElectrolysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis======Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]======Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9🔔 Follow to stay updated with new uploads
Mar 6
56 min
#1: Ian Brooke – Electric Adaptive Jet Engines (Astro Mechanica)
Sponsor: Secure by Design -  http://tinyurl.com/5ds2pyjv======[Series Premiere] Founder Ian Brooke gives his first public interview to talk about Astro Mechanica, a new startup building electric-adaptive jet engines. And, possibly, the world’s fastest plane. And the cheapest way to orbit. (It’s an ambitious startup idea.)======(00:00) - Intro(01:27) - What Astro Mechanica is Building(05:50) - Jets vs. Rockets(12:07) - How to Generate Thrust (15:07) - Engineering Challenges for Traditional Turbofans(17:07) - The New Paradigm: Electric Adaptive Jets(24:23) - Specific Impulse and Efficiency(32:07) - Ramjet vs. Scramjet(38:12) - Staging Considerations(42:25) - Fastest Plane Ever Flown: SR-71 Blackbird and its Challenges(44:07) - Transitioning from Ramjet to Rocket(47:27) - Building the Next Boeing(53:07) - Everyone Gets a Private Jet(56:07) - Why Start with Space Launch? (1:06:07) - Where You Go From There(1:10:07) - Why Everyone Loves Toyotas(1:16:12) - The Supersonic Jet Engine Next Door(1:19:57) - Starting the Company(1:23:07) - What’s Next?(1:27:37) - How Do You Do What You’re Doing?(1:31:07) - [email protected]======Links:Astro Mechanica – https://astromecha.co, [email protected] Brooke – https://twitter.com/k2pilotChristian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleFirst Principles:Specific Impulse (ISP) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_impulseRocket Equation – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsiolkovsky_rocket_equationNavier Stokes Equations – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navier%E2%80%93Stokes_equationsPower-to-Weight Ratio – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-weight_ratio======Production and marketing by The Deep View ( https://thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]======Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9🔔 Follow to stay updated with new uploads
Feb 28
1 hr 34 min
#0: Welcome to First Principles
Episode 0: On First Principles, Christian Keil ( https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle ), Host and Chief of Staff at Astranis, dives into the complex world of deep tech startups — and hopes to make them approachable, and PhD-optional.======Production and marketing by The Deep View ( https://thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]
Feb 27
1 min