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Pablos Holman is a hacker and inventor and the author of Deep Future: Creating Technology that Matters, the indispensable guide to deep tech. Previously, Pablos worked on spaceships at Blue Origin and helped build The Intellectual Ventures Lab to invent a wide variety of breakthroughs. Pablos also hosts the Deep Future Podcast and is managing partner at Deep Future.This episode is brought to you by:Cresset prestigious family office for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: https://cressetcapital.com/timMaui Nui Venison, delicious, nutrient-dense, and responsible red meat: https://mauinuivenison.com/lp/timAG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://drinkag1.com/timTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:12 The hacker mindset33:05 Nuclear52:35 Autonomous ships58:48 Pragmatic optimism01:00:29 Risk tolerance01:04:50 Blue Origin01:11:59 Zero Effect philosophy01:34:43 China01:43:07 Taiwan01:45:04 AI01:50:42 Salsa02:08:44 Deep tech investing*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jim talks with Pablos Holman about the ideas in his new book Deep Future: Creating Technology That Matters. They discuss deep tech versus shallow tech, computational modeling and simulation for real-world problems, the hacker mindset, the role of inventors, nuclear power and renewable energy solutions, population growth, development challenges, space-based solar power, the likelihood of fusion power, mistakes in German energy policy, energy storage limitations, the transformation of the apparel industry through automation, and much more. Episode Transcript Deep Future: Creating Technology That Matters, by Pablos Holman Deep Future (company) Intellectual Ventures Lab Pablos is a hacker, inventor, and bestselling author of Deep Future: Creating Technology that Matters, the indispensable guide to deep tech. Now Managing Partner at Deep Future, investing in technologies to solve the world's biggest problems. Previously, Pablos worked on spaceships at Blue Origin and helped build The Intellectual Ventures Lab to invent a wide variety of breakthroughs including a brain surgery tool, a machine to suppress hurricanes, 3D food printers, and a laser that can shoot down mosquitos—part of an impact invention effort to eradicate malaria with Bill Gates. Pablos hosts the Deep Future Podcast and is a top public speaker—his talks have over 30 million views.
Global scale problems continue to require innovative solutions. How can deep technology address the biggest problems in the world? On this episode, Pablos Holman discussed his book, Deep Future.
Inventor and futurist Pablos Holman cuts through AI hype, branding it "just computational models," and argues humans retain agency over dystopian fears. He dismantles Silicon Valley's obsession with apps, revealing how we've prioritized software over transformative deep tech—igniting a call to redirect talent toward trillion-dollar problems like clean energy, disease eradication, and sustainable food/water systems. Rejecting both optimism and pessimism, Holman champions a "possibilist" mindset: "We decide what an awesome future looks like—then build it."Holman unpacks hard truths: modern nuclear reactors (safer than solar panels) could've prevented climate change had we "outlawed bombs, not reactors," and the metaverse failed because "people crave meat space." He urges technologists to "build apps for practice" before solving humanity's deepest challenges and shares breakthroughs in energy, computational modeling, and startup experimentation. Packed with contrarian insights, this episode is a roadmap to creating technology that truly matters.
Software is eating the world, right? We've all heard this phrase by now, but inventor and investor Pablos Holman has something important to add: “The world can't eat software.”That's why Pablos focuses on “deep tech”, i.e. how to invent new solutions to real world problems like energy, water, waste, construction, and sanitation. Pablos says we're still mostly using version 1.0 technology for these fundamental systems, but recent advances, including AI and the ability to prototype and test in software, are enabling incredible innovation in hardware.Pablos has worked with Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and more. He's kind of a mad scientist and in this episode we'll discuss things that sound like science fiction, but that Pablos says are coming soon, such as solar panels in outer space that can beam clean energy down to earth, autonomous cargo ships blown by the wind across the ocean, and tiny nuclear reactors buried a mile underground that power the world above. At Deep Future, Pablos is on a mission to solve the world's biggest problems, and he's hoping more people will make the jump that he did from software to hardware and into deep tech, because, as he says, “ all the people who've been building software their entire career, those are the ones who are going to save the world.”—Chapters02:25 Deep tech and why it's so important05:56 How Pablos became an inventor07:44 Getting Blue Origin off the ground11:35 Running an invention lab at Intellectual Ventures13:40 Why solar panels in space will soon power Earth16:46 Why all problems are energy problems21:33 Better nuclear reactors are coming28:25 How rapid iteration in software enables better hardware31:35 An appeal to software people to get into deep tech — and save the world—Links:Deep Future book, podcast, and firm: deepfuture.techPopTech conference: poptech.org (if you're new to PopTech and would like a discount, email me or DM me on LinkedIn)Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: crafted.fmLearn more about how Modern Product Minds can help you build the future: modernproductminds.comEmail me: dan@modernproductminds.com
Why do some people jump into entirely new categories of possibility? And what does this have to do with self-driving ships, solar panels in space, shooting mosquitoes with lasers, skateboarding tricks, silent drones, and our future as a species? Join Eagleman with guest Pablos Holman, a venture capitalist, author, and connoisseur of invention.
Pablos makes the case for Computational Maximalism.
Software is eating the world, right? We've all heard this phrase by now, but inventor and investor Pablos Holman has something important to add: “The world can't eat software.”That's why Pablos focuses on “deep tech”, i.e. how to invent new solutions to real world problems like energy, water, waste, construction, and sanitation. Pablos says we're still mostly using version 1.0 technology for these fundamental systems, but recent advances, including AI and the ability to prototype and test in software, are enabling incredible innovation in hardware.Pablos has worked with Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and more. He's kind of a mad scientist and in this episode we'll discuss things that sound like science fiction, but that Pablos says are coming soon, such as solar panels in outer space that can beam clean energy down to earth, autonomous cargo ships blown by the wind across the ocean, and tiny nuclear reactors buried a mile underground that power the world above.At Deep Future, Pablos is on a mission to solve the world's biggest problems, and he's hoping more people will make the jump that he did from software to hardware and into deep tech, because, as he says, “ all the people who've been building software their entire career, those are the ones who are going to save the world.”—More on Pablos: Deep Future: https://deepfuture.tech/Deep Future podcast: https://deepfuture.tech/podcast-index/ —Support CRAFTED.:Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fmSubscribe to CRAFTED. on your favorite podcast platformShare this episode with a friend or colleague!
What happens when a hacker turns his skills toward solving the world's biggest challenges? Pablos Holman, a futurist and inventor from Silicon Valley, redefines innovation with his unique approach and sharp humour in conversation with Harvest Series host Rose Claverie. From pioneering tech solutions to tackling global energy problems, Pablos shares his insights on the future of technology and the mindset behind impactful inventions. Join us for a conversation filled with fresh perspectives and plenty of laughs.[2:53] – Interview Kickoff: We dive into technology with Pablos, discussing how tools reflect our values.[5:50] – The Cost of New Tech: Are we losing anything in our adoption of new technologies? Pablos shares his positive perspective on how well we're adapting to social media and AI.[7:30] – Investing in World-Changing Projects: What guides Pablos and his team when choosing investments? They aim for big-impact projects, not just software solutions.[11:00] – Proud Investments: Pablos highlights self-driving ships as one of Deep Future's standout ventures.[14:00] – Silicon Valley's Focus: Why Silicon Valley should tackle larger issues beyond social media. Despite impressive innovation, it's only targeting 2% of the global economy—missing out on sectors like waste, energy, and water, which make up the other 98%.[18:00] – Global Competitors to Silicon Valley: Can any other region compete with Silicon Valley? What makes the Valley so unique and successful?[28:00] – Investing in Global Peace: Pablos discusses the challenge of energy inequality and its critical role in achieving global peace.[35:00] – Personal Story: Pablos shares his upbringing in Alaska and how he was the first in his community to own a computer.[44:00] – Life as a Hacker: Pablos talks about his journey as a hacker and what it truly means to be one.[54:00] – Harvest of the Day: Pablos reflects on when he felt most connected as a child.You can follow us on Instagram : @Harvestseries, or @rose.claverie for updatesTo know more about Pablos Holman and watch our filmed podcast or speakers on Youtube : Harvest Series.Sound editing by @lesbellesfrequencesTechnicians in Kaplankaya : Joel Moriasi, Hanan Yasir and teamMusic by ChambordArtwork : Davide d'AntonioHarvest Series is produced in partnership with Athena Advisers and Capital PartnersThe founders of Harvest Series are Burak Öymen and Roman Carel.
Scott Cohen is the cofounder of Newlab, a vast, supportive and inspirational community for deep tech founders.
Two nerds bullshitting about the cloak and dagger marketplace of raising a venture fund.
Admir Masic is the scientist who discovered how the Romans built the Pantheon.
Two nerds bullshitting about the most important kitchen toy.
Avi Geiger is founder of GroundLight, a toolkit that helps robots understand what humans are telling them to do and connect that to what they see around them.
Two nerds bullshitting about how to jettison Google.
Two nerds bullshitting about electric toys you can ride.
Two nerds bullshitting about the massive leak of social security numbers this week.
The first robot that can give you a great massage is just coming out of beta testing in NYC. You can book it and try yourself. I did! This is a conversation with Aescape's founder, Eric Litman.
Two nerds bullshitting about the imminent scale of computation on Earth.
Pablos is joined by Wayne Austad, CTO, National & Homeland Security at Idaho National Labs.
Two nerds bullshitting about turning your dead relatives into diamonds..
Pablos is joined by Nicholas Woolstenhulme, a Nuclear Reactor engineer at Idaho National Labs.
Two nerds and an Australian architect bullshitting about turning CAD software into a giant world simulating video game.
Pablos is joined by Ahmad Al Rashdan, a Nuclear Reactor engineer at Idaho National Labs.
Two nerds bullshitting about alternatives to college that would provide some of the same benefits.
Pablos is joined by Frank Rieger of Germany's Chaos Computer Club for a conversation about hacking and activism.
Two nerds bullshitting about LinkedIn basically being Dungeons & Dragons for squares..
Two nerds bullshitting about robots that can give a good massage.
Psychedelics in Science & the Origin of Life – Bruce Damer
Two nerds bullshitting about making amino acid Legos that kids can plug together to make proteins. This turned into a completely unrelated conversation about delivering personalized pharmaceuticals.
Genome Sequencing for Kids – Robert Green
Two nerds bullshitting about feeding the output from one industrial process as the input for another.
Hardware is Hard – Dan Shapiro
Two nerds bullshitting about using X-PRIZE and Kickstarter to get nuclear reactors built.
Two nerds bullshitting about their search for the ultimate black t-shirt.
A Thousand Words for a Picture – Rob Angel
Two nerds bullshitting about a decentralized YouTube.
Two nerds bullshitting about adapting cybersecurity to LLMs.
An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything – Garrett Lisi
Two nerds bullshitting about E-ink T-Shirts.
Pablos is joined by Rob Shepherd, who's working on robotics that could really help us make robots more naturally integrated.
Two nerds bullshitting about augmented reality tattoos.
Pablos is joined by Lee Cronin, a professor of chemistry in Glasgow, where he founded his company called "Chemify."
Two nerds bullshitting about an augmented reality baseball cap.
Two nerds bullshitting about being able to annotate everything.
Pablos is joined by David Eagleman, a neuroscientist and co-founder of Neosensory, where they develop devices for sensory substitution
Two nerds bullshitting about a worldwide bug tracker.
Two nerds bullshitting about robots getting some of mammals' greatest hits.
Moran Cerf is a true polymath, from hacker to neuroscientist.