AI in Flight - with Nicholas Thompson, Tory Bruno and Joe Schurman

AI in Flight - with Nicholas Thompson, Tory Bruno and Joe Schurman

Author: Atlantic Re:think November 12, 2025 Duration: 39:16
The space race has gone private, and in this new world, efficiency is key. United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno explains how a legacy rocket maker remade itself to compete in an industry full of startups. From load analysis and low-earth-orbit satellite monitoring to rockets with autonomous flight systems, Bruno unpacks what happens when machine learning meets computational fluid dynamics in our atmosphere. Plus, why AI might be critical to landing  a man on Mars—and getting them home alive. (00:00) Introduction (01:38) From backyard rockets to Boeing and Lockheed (Tory Bruno) (03:58) Transforming ULA for a new space race (06:09) The physics of launch: energy, precision, and peril (08:41) Reprogramming flight paths with AI (10:55) The coming age of autonomous and reusable rockets (16:27) When we'll really send humans to Mars—and bring them back (19:36) How AI could help us find, and talk to, alien life (29:20) AI in the space economy (Joe Schurman) (34:16) The $2 trillion future of space (37:51) The most interesting way Joe has used AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicholas Thompson sits down with some of the sharpest minds working at the edges of artificial intelligence in The Most Interesting Thing in A.I.. This isn't a dry technical briefing or a series of speculative futures; instead, each conversation digs into the tangible, often surprising ways this technology is already altering the fabric of our daily lives and institutions. You'll hear from leading thinkers who cut through the hype to discuss the real ethical dilemmas, economic shifts, and social transformations unfolding right now. Produced by Atlantic Re:think and PwC, the podcast provides a grounded space to explore questions about creativity, power, work, and truth in an age of intelligent machines. The discussions are built on the premise that understanding AI's impact requires looking beyond code and algorithms to consider human values and consequences. Tune in for thoughtful, accessible dialogues that reframe how we think about one of the most significant forces of our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 41

The Most Interesting Thing in AI
Podcast Episodes
The Case Against the AI Bubble - Azeem Azhar with Nicholas Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:15
Among the many eye-popping numbers of the AI industry—from trillions in investments to billions in spending—one stands out: $0 in profit among leading AI companies. According to Bloomberg, “never before has so much money…
The Race to Superintelligence - Richard Socher with Nicholas Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:45
As AI’s capabilities improve, reports of “rogue” agents and misaligned systems are becoming more frequent. In response, some activists, academics, and politicians have called for a pause in development, warning of the da…
How to Get Hired in the AI Era - Clara Shih with Nicholas Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:43
For years, tech CEOs have promised that AI will take on the menial, repetitive tasks that have long been a part of office life. Typically, those tasks are assigned to younger, less experienced workers—and poll after poll…
Meta's Plan to Win in AI - Andrew Bosworth with Nicholas Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:58
However you feel about Meta, Andrew Bosworth has likely played a part in it. The long-serving right hand to Mark Zuckerberg and current Chief Technology Officer, “Boz” has helped shape almost every stage of the company’s…