Nathan Myhrvold

Nathan Myhrvold, inventor and former Microsoft CTO known for founding TerraPower and writing Modernist Cuisine, shares wide-ranging pursuits. He discusses studying with Stephen Hawking, creating radical clean-energy ideas like TerraPower and ocean-cooling pumps, the science behind high-temperature pizza baking, and how to nurture gifted kids while deciding when to quit and pivot.

Nathan Myhrvold, CEO of Intellectual Ventures and former CTO at Microsoft, dives into his dynamic career spanning tech, science, and modern cuisine. He discusses AI's evolution and its parallels to the early days of personal computing, along with Microsoft's strategic collaborations, especially with OpenAI. Myhrvold also tackles society's fears about AI versus its potential benefits. Plus, he shares insights on innovative solutions for rising global energy demands and teases the next installment of his Modernist Cuisine series.

In this engaging conversation, Nathan Myhrvold, a polymath who graduated high school at 14 and co-founded Intellectual Ventures, shares his remarkable journey from physics to technology. He discusses innovative projects like the Salter Sink to combat hurricanes and new nuclear reactor designs that minimize waste. Myhrvold expresses the challenges of being a diverse thinker while also emphasizing the importance of focused innovation. He reflects on the balance needed in nurturing giftedness and the fulfilling yet frustrating path of invention.