Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, who builds automated biological foundries to make biology programmable. He explains how robotic, AI-driven labs run experiments at scale and a collaboration where a reasoning model plus robotics outperformed prior biochemistry results. He describes why automating lab work, cloud labs, and shared data will accelerate discovery and reshape biotech infrastructure.

Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, shares insights on delivering effective investor updates, highlighting transparency as key to building strong investor relationships. He delves into the revolutionary potential of synthetic biology, discussing how Ginkgo is helping customers optimize product creation. The conversation also tackles the ethical implications of DNA editing, and the importance of navigating biosecurity in biotech, balancing innovation with responsibility.

CEO and Co-Founder Gingko Bioworks, Jason Kelly discusses the wonder and challenges of bioengineering, the history of biotech, first principles thinking, super-voting shares, and applying AI to DNA engineering.

Jason Kelly, the Co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, and Michelle Rozo, VP of Technical Capabilities at In-Q-Tel, dive deep into the world of biotechnology. They discuss how the U.S. government transformed biotech into a $1 trillion industry and explore the transformative potential of AI in drug discovery. The duo also examines China’s growing ambitions in this field, raising questions about U.S. competitiveness. Additionally, they highlight ethical challenges and the need for strategic policies to foster innovation and enhance national security.

Edward Mehr, CEO of Robocraftsman, on versatile metal-manufacturing robots. Jason Fried, Basecamp CEO, on Ferrari Luce interior and design cohesion. Sara Hooker, co-founder of Adaption Labs, on continual learning for AI. Boris Sofman, Bedrock Robotics CEO, on autonomous retrofits for heavy machinery. Dan Romero, crypto product lead at Tempo, on payments-first Layer 1. Jason Kelly, Ginkgo CEO, on autonomous labs. Bill Bishop, Sinocism founder, on PLA changes and U.S.-China ties.

Join Jason Kelly, co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, and Dawn Meyerriecks, former CIA Deputy Director for Science and Technology, as they delve into the pivotal role of life sciences in national security. They explore the dual-use potential of biotechnology and the urgent need for ethical oversight amid rising geopolitical tensions. Key topics include pandemic preparedness, the importance of vaccine production, and wastewater monitoring for viral trends. Their conversation emphasizes the necessity for innovation and investment to safeguard national resilience against emerging biological threats.

Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks and an MIT Ph.D. in Biological Engineering, dives into the intersection of AI and synthetic biology. He discusses how DNA acts as a code akin to software, highlighting innovations in protein engineering. Kelly illustrates pandemic preparedness through advancements in synthetic biology and the importance of AI in drug discovery. The conversation sheds light on corporate governance in biotech startups and the evolutionary insights that can optimize biological systems for future research.

Today John Cumbers talks with Jason Kelly, Co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. Together they will discuss synthetic biology’s coming of age” and get Jason’s take on several topics, such as the history of programmable biology, Sam Altman, Ai and the role of AI in biology, and the new congressional commission covering national security and emerging biotechnology. Check out this week's sponsor: Twist Bioscience Jason Kelly is a co-founder and the CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. He obtained his doctorate in Bioengineering from MIT in 2008, where he worked on engineering bacteria to produce biofuels. In 2009, Kelly co-founded Ginkgo Bioworks along with four other co-founders. Under his leadership, Ginkgo has grown to become one of the leading companies in the field of synthetic biology, with a focus on developing custom microbes for a wide range of applications, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial chemicals. Jason has been recognized for his contributions to synthetic biology, receiving several awards, including MIT Technology Review's Innovator Under 35 and Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Energy. Connect with Matt: @jrkelly Connect with John: @johncumbers Stay updated on the latest news in synthetic biology, check out our weekly newsletter, and follow us on social media: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Be sure you make it to our SynBioBeta events! Click here for more information.

Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks and pioneer in industrializing biology, discusses the future of biotech with cutting-edge insights. He argues that AI and lab automation will redefine science, making biology akin to software. Kelly highlights challenges in programming biology and the need for splitting lab work from design. He explores the impact of regulations, the burgeoning field of human enhancement, and how China's advancements could reshape the industry. Join him in envisioning a future where machines and AI drive scientific discovery.

Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks and trained in biological engineering, discusses lab automation and the rise of autonomous laboratories. He explains the foundry model, the 0–5 levels of lab automation, and the difference between rigid automation and flexible autonomy. He also covers integrating hundreds of instruments, translating scientist requests into executable protocols, and the path toward goal-driven labs.