From Google X to Climate Solutions: Interview with Tom Chi

Jason Stoughton
1 hour ago
2 min read

Episode Description

New Pulse of AI Podcast! Season 7; Episode 164

Tom Chi joins Pulse of AI Podcast Host Jason Stoughton to talk about his new book, his investment thesis at his deep tech venture firm At One Ventures as well as his time at Google X leading the teams that created autonomous cars, wearable augmented reality and deep learning.

As a renowned physicist/innovator turned venture capitalist, Tom was a founding member of GoogleX where so many of the recent groundbreaking discoveries in AI were developed. One day while snorkeling at a reef near his home in Hawaii he realized that the reef was dying and had an epiphany that he should take his expertise and insights and focus on investing in deep-tech startups and catalyze a world where humanity is a net positive to nature.

His new book is Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future.

Takeaways

Tom Chi's career spans astrophysics, tech, and environmentalism.
A personal tragedy catalyzed Chi's focus on environmental issues.
Economic and ecological goals can align for better business practices.
Investing in regenerative technologies is crucial for a sustainable future.
AI can play a significant role in improving environmental outcomes.
The future workforce will need skills like critical thinking and creativity.
Local actions can lead to global change in environmental efforts.
Building community and relationships is essential for tackling big challenges.
The narrative around environmentalism often emphasizes sacrifice, but innovation can lead to profit.
The future will be built by those who take action, not just talk about it.