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Every episode
TechSurge: Deep Tech Podcast
30 episodes
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan on 40 Years of Contrarian Bets in Semiconductors
Ep 14 · Aug 11, 2026 · 36 min
Silicon Valley was built on semiconductors, but for nearly two decades, venture capital shifted its attention towards software. Today, AI is changing that as the demand for compute, memory and networking explodes, hardware is once again at the centre of the industry's biggest bets. In this episode of TechSurge, host Michael Marks speaks with Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel and one of the semiconductor industry's most influential investors and executives. The conversation traces Tan's journey from study…
The Moving Bottleneck: Networking, Power, Memory, and the Race to Win AI
Ep 13 · Jul 28, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Artificial intelligence is often discussed through models and GPUs. This episode looks beneath that surface, at the power delivery and networking required to make AI work at scale. Host Sriram Viswanathan speaks with Rajiv Khemani, a serial deep tech entrepreneur whose career has tracked several major infrastructure cycles: internet networking, cloud switching, blockchain compute and now AI networking. Khemani reflects on his early work at NetBoost and Intel, his operating role at Cavium, and th…
Physical AI, Quantum, and Bio-Innovation: Inside Canada’s Research Frontier
Ep 12 · Jul 15, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Canada produces world-leading science, engineering, and AI research. So why does so much of that research still commercialize outside of Canada? In this episode of TechSurge, host Nic Brathwaite puts that question to four leaders at two of Canada's top research universities: Mary Wells (Dean of Engineering) and Chris Houser (Dean of Science) at the University of Waterloo, and Heather Sheardown (Dean of Engineering) and Gianni Parise (VP Research) at McMaster. At Waterloo, Mary Wells traces how t…
Google's Chief Technologist on Intelligent Search in the Age of AI
Ep 10 · Jun 30, 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
TechSurge is sponsored by Notion. From product roadmaps to investor updates, Notion is where modern teams plan, write, and ship together. Get started at http://notion.dev/techsurge. Search began as a way to find pages. AI is turning it into a way to ask, reason, decide, and act. Search has always been more than a technical problem. It is a way of organising knowledge, connecting intent with information, and increasingly, turning questions into actions. In the age of artificial intelligence, that…
Battle for the AI Data Center: Deep Dive on the Semiconductor Supercycle
Ep 9 · Jun 16, 2026 · 53 min
Semiconductors have moved from the background of the technology stack to the center of the AI economy. What used to be a specialized industry discussed mostly by engineers and investors is now shaping the speed, cost, and strategic direction of modern computing. In this episode of TechSurge, host Michael Marks speaks with Stacy Rasgon, Managing Director and Senior Analyst covering U.S. semiconductors and semiconductor capital equipment at Bernstein Research. Stacy has spent years analyzing the c…
In-Orbit Manufacturing, AI Data Centers, and the New Space Economy with MIT’s Ariel Ekblaw
Ep 8 · Jun 2, 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
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…
The U.S. – China Deep Tech Arms Race
Ep 7 · May 21, 2026 · 48 min
For years, the United States told itself a reassuring story: China could manufacture and copy, but it couldn't innovate. That story is no longer credible. From DeepSeek's compute-efficient AI model to BYD's dominance of the global EV market, China is producing both volume and quality across sectors that matter. The question is no longer whether China can compete — it's whether the United States is playing its own hand well. In this episode of TechSurge, host Michael Marks speaks with Vivek Chilu…
Rare Earth Rush: Strategic Minerals and Tech's New Resource Wars
Ep 6 · May 7, 2026 · 57 min
For thirty years, the United States largely ignored critical minerals. We mined less, processed less, and stockpiled less — while China quietly built the most dominant mineral supply chain in modern history. When China imposed rare earth export restrictions in 2024, manufacturers from Detroit to Tokyo scrambled. The invisible inputs powering electric vehicles, semiconductors, AI data centers, and defense systems had suddenly become visible — and vulnerable. In this episode of TechSurge, host Sri…
The US Crypto Awakening
Ep 5 · Apr 16, 2026 · 57 min
For years, crypto policy in the United States was defined less by clear rules than by the threat of enforcement. Startups and institutions building in the space operated in a gray zone: no clear guidance, no path to compliance, and always the possibility of a regulatory hammer coming down. In 2025, that began to change. In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan speaks with Commissioner Hester Peirce of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — one of Washington's most closely wat…
Pixels to Intelligence: The Next Era of Imaging
Ep 4 · Apr 7, 2026 · 51 min
Digital imaging is so ubiquitous today that it’s easy to forget how improbable it once was. In this episode of TechSurge, guest host Nic Brathwaite sits down with Dr. Eric Fossum, inventor of the CMOS active pixel image sensor, to unpack the breakthrough that made it possible to embed cameras into billions of devices and the deeper lessons behind it. Eric explains how his work began not with consumer electronics, but with a NASA constraint: how to shrink a refrigerator-sized space camera into so…
Sovereign AI Stacks: The New Strategic National Resource
Ep 3 · Mar 19, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
As artificial intelligence becomes a strategic capability for nations as well as companies, questions of governance, safety, and geopolitical competition are moving to the forefront. In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan speaks with Helen Toner, Interim Executive Director of the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown and a former OpenAI board member, about the rise of sovereign AI stacks and the global implications of increasingly powerful AI systems. He…
Governing AI Before It Outpaces Us: Safety for Critical Infrastructure
Ep 2 · Mar 5, 2026 · 58 min
As generative AI systems move from novelty to infrastructure, questions of safety, trust, and governance are becoming urgent. In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan is joined by Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, CEO of Humane Intelligence PBC and responsible AI Pioneer, about what AI safety really means and why the industry may be focusing on the wrong problems. Rumman argues that the most overlooked lever in AI development is evaluation. While companies emphasize model training and capabilit…
India: The Next Tech Global Superpower?
Ep 1 · Feb 19, 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
As global supply chains fracture, AI reshapes productivity, and technology becomes a core instrument of national power, India is making an ambitious push to redefine its role in the world economy from IT services provider to deep tech superpower. In the season 2 premiere of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan brings together three defining perspectives to examine how India is positioned to become a global leader in frontier technologies, and what must go right for that vision to succeed. The epis…
TechSurge: Season 2 Trailer
Feb 12, 2026 · 2 min
TechSurge returns for an all-new season exploring the forces reshaping the future of deep tech, where breakthrough innovation meets real-world market dynamics. In season 2, we dive deeper into the intersection of emerging technology, market forces, and entrepreneurial discovery, featuring candid conversations with Silicon Valley leaders, visionary founders, investors, and bold builders shaping the future of deep tech. From AI and advanced computing to energy, biotech, and beyond, we explore what…
Season 1 Finale: Risks, Rewards, and Realities of Open vs. Closed AI
Ep 25 · Jul 1, 2025 · 26 min
In TechSurge’s Season 1 Finale episode, we explore an important debate: should AI development be open source or closed? AI technology leader and UN Senior Fellow Senthil Kumar joins Michael Marks for a deep dive into one of the most consequential debates in artificial intelligence, exploring the fundamental tensions between democratizing AI access and maintaining safety controls. Sparked by DeepSeek's recent model release that delivered GPT-4 class performance at a fraction of the cost and compu…
Betting Early on Zoom, Canva, and Crypto: Inside the Playbook of Visionary Solo VC Bill Tai
Ep 24 · Jun 18, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Legendary technologist and investor Bill Tai joins our latest episode for a wide-ranging conversation spanning decades of Silicon Valley innovation. Bill shares his remarkable journey from being employee #1 at TSMC to becoming one of the first seed investors in Zoom and Canva, and his early embrace of Bitcoin when it was priced at just 7 cents. The conversation explores Bill's unique investment philosophy shaped by mentorship from Don Valentine of Sequoia Capital, his innovative approach to buil…
Blueprint for an AI Future: OpenAI Chief Economist on How AI Will Shape the Global Economy
Ep 23 · Jun 5, 2025 · 52 min
Will AI displace more jobs than it creates? How can the U.S. win the AI race? How can AI benefits be evenly distributed across businesses and society? We explore these questions and more as Sriram Viswanathan sits down with Ronnie Chatterji, Chief Economist at OpenAI, for an in-depth exploration of AI's economic impact and policy implications. Ronnie brings a unique perspective, having served as an economic advisor in both the Obama and Biden administrations as a senior economist, supply chain a…
Inside Nokia’s Strategy: CSTO Nishant Batra on Telecom’s Future, Brand Reinvention, and Betting on Bell Labs
Ep 22 · May 22, 2025 · 48 min
In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan sits down with Nishant Batra, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer at Nokia, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of telecom and wireless technology. Nishant shares insights into the seismic shifts transforming network infrastructure—from core networks to edge computing—and discusses how Nokia leverages artificial intelligence to optimize performance and drive innovation. The conversation also highlights Nokia's unique innovation fram…
Leading Through Chaos: John Chambers on Tariffs, Cyber Threats, & the AI Supercycle
Ep 21 · May 8, 2025 · 40 min
Competition, growth, tariffs, hacks, AI – what does it take to be an effective leader today? John Chambers, former CEO and Executive Chairman of Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, joins TechSurge host Sriram Viswanathan to share valuable wisdom on leading and growing businesses through times of significant change. As a leader who has transitioned from the c-suite to venture capital and now mentoring founders in emerging technology sectors, John has seen it all. He shares lessons from his time le…
China, Funding Cuts, & Campus Controversy: Is U.S. Tech Leadership Falling Behind?
Ep 20 · Apr 24, 2025 · 42 min
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 o…
Inside Microsoft's Trillion Dollar Playbook with Chief Strategy Officer Bobby Yerramilli-Rao
Ep 19 · Apr 10, 2025 · 48 min
Bobby Yerramilli-Rao, Chief Strategy Officer at Microsoft, joins TechSurge host Sriram Viswanathan to offer a rare glimpse into the strategic playbook of one of the world’s most powerful tech companies. Bobby shares how the company navigates today’s biggest technology paradigm shifts, placing bets with trillion-dollar implications. Touching on Microsoft’s AI strategy, OpenAI partnership, quantum computing, its approach to acquisitions, and much more, this candid and wide-ranging conversation is…
Scaling the AI Era: Next-Gen Data Storage Solutions with Pure Storage CEO Charlie Giancarlo
Ep 18 · Apr 1, 2025 · 59 min
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 architectur…
Why AI Isn't Ready to Make Medicines
Ep 17 · Mar 13, 2025 · 42 min
Many in venture capital and biopharma are anointing artificial intelligence the savior of drug discovery—but what can AI actually do? In this eye-opening episode, Michael Marks sits down with Mike Nohaile, CEO of Prellis Biologics, to explore the hype versus reality in AI-enabled drug discovery. Mike details why, despite significant breakthroughs like AlphaFold and recent Nobel Prize win for computational protein design, fully AI-generated medicines still present challenges. He also discusses wh…
Understanding the Elegant Math Behind Modern Machine Learning
Ep 16 · Feb 27, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
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 sha…
21st Century Warfare: The Nexus of Technology, Economy, & National Security
Ep 15 · Feb 13, 2025 · 45 min
With global economic alliances shifting and new threats emerging, will the U.S. maintain its dominance in an increasingly complex world? From chips to cyberterrorist threats to cryptocurrency, battles for global dominance are no longer only fought on the battlefield—they're playing out in markets, boardrooms, and cyberspace. In this episode, we sit down with Juan Zarate, a key member of the post-9/11 Bush Administration team who architected how we combat terrorist financing and think about moder…
Adapting to AI & Geopolitical Disruption with Global Head of McKinsey Bob Sternfels
Ep 14 · Jan 30, 2025 · 51 min
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 o…
The Future of Wireless, Academia, & Intel: A Conversation With Dr. Andrea Goldsmith
Ep 13 · Jan 16, 2025 · 53 min
The future of wireless technology is unfolding, are you ready for what's next? How can Intel regain market dominance? How will AI and IOT shape the next generation of wireless? What are the challenges in transitioning to 5G, NextG, and beyond? How will academia and the startup world intersect in the 21st century economy? We explore these questions and more in our latest episode of the TechSurge Deep Tech VC Podcast, as we sit down with Dr. Andrea Goldsmith, Dean of Princeton University’s School…
How AI Is Fueling the Transformation of Medical Imaging
Ep 12 · Dec 12, 2024 · 46 min
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 dete…
The Tech CEO Playbook: Strategies for Success
Ep 11 · Nov 26, 2024 · 45 min
Host Sriram Viswanathan sits down with Qualcomm Chairman Mark McLaughlin, the former CEO of Palo Alto Networks and Verisign and a trailblazer in technology and cybersecurity. Mark shares his remarkable transition from West Point to the heights of the tech industry, drawing on the many powerful leadership lessons developed throughout his career. Mark shares advice on balancing family priorities and career choices, offering a deeply human perspective on leadership told through his unique experienc…
Customer Experience x AI: Industries at the Intersection Series
Ep 10 · Nov 14, 2024 · 45 min
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.…
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