Episode #374: The Intersection of AI and Hardware: Sergiy Nesterenko on Tomorrow’s Tech

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop is joined by Sergiy Nesterenko, CEO of Quilter. They explore the intersection of AI and deep tech, focusing on automating circuit board design, the future of hardware and software integration, and the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Sergiy shares his insights on the challenges of hardware design, the role of curiosity and empathy in engineering, and the exciting potential of 3D printing and remote work. Additionally, Sergiy discusses the importance of maintaining a child-like perspective to notice inefficiencies and the evolving landscape of reinforcement learning and neural networks. For more information on Quilter and their career opportunities, visit their website.

 Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the episode with Sergiy, CEO at Quilter, discussing AI, chips, and deep tech.

00:05 Sergiy describes Quilter's work on automating circuit board design and the three major steps involved: creating a circuit schematic, making a physical blueprint (PCB layout), and sending it to a factory.

00:10 Discussion on the challenges of hardware design, the role of software in automation, and the difficulty of maintaining a child-like curiosity and noticing inefficiencies.

00:15 Sergiy talks about the importance of empathy in engineering and how it's unlikely for AI to tackle this soon. Discussion about the human side of AI, insight, and subjective nature of problem-solving.

00:20 Differences between large language models like ChatGPT and other AI systems, such as Tesla's autopilot. Challenges of using AI in robotics and physical tasks.

00:25 Overview of computer vision, the role of convolutional neural networks, and the significance of AlexNet in the history of machine learning.

00:30 Philosophical insights from AI research, curiosity, and the human desire for neural networks to exhibit some form of "magic." Discussion on the limitations of current understanding of consciousness and intelligence.

00:35 The excitement around automating hardware design, the analogy between software compilation and hardware design, and the potential for increased accessibility and innovation in hardware.

00:40 Discussion on 3D printing in electronics, its limitations, and potential applications. The possibility of using 3D printing for circuit boards and its implications for prototyping.

00:45 Thoughts on the future of remote work, its challenges, and potential benefits. Sergiy's personal experience with remote connections and the idea of replicating meaningful human interactions in a remote work environment.

00:50 Hiring opportunities at Quilter, including roles in reinforcement learning, electrical engineering, DevOps, infrastructure, and design. Encouragement for opportunistic applications.

Key Insights

1. Intersection of AI and Deep Tech: Sergiy Nesterenko discusses how Quilter is at the forefront of integrating AI with deep tech to automate the laborious process of circuit board design. He explains how their software aims to reduce the time required to design complex boards by automating significant portions of the layout process.
2. Challenges and Opportunities in Hardware Design: Sergiy highlights the inherent difficulties in hardware design compared to software. He points out that while software development has become more accessible over the years, hardware design remains a complex and time-consuming process. Automating parts of this process could democratize hardware innovation, much like compilers did for software.
3. Curiosity and Empathy in Engineering: Sergiy emphasizes the importance of maintaining a child-like curiosity and empathy in engineering. He argues that these qualities help identify and question inefficiencies that have become normalized, driving innovation and improvement in engineering practices.
4. Future of Remote Work: Both Sergiy and Stewart discuss the evolving landscape of remote work. Sergiy shares his optimistic view on fully remote operations, citing his own company's success and the potential for significant benefits once current challenges, such as the lack of spontaneous in-office interactions, are addressed.
5. Philosophical Insights on AI: The conversation touches on the philosophical aspects of AI, particularly the human tendency to anthropomorphize technology. Sergiy reflects on how large language models like ChatGPT elicit emotional responses from users, despite being fundamentally complex mathematical functions.
6. Impact of 3D Printing on Electronics: Sergiy talks about the current and potential future roles of 3D printing in electronics. While 3D printing is not yet prevalent for mass manufacturing of circuit boards, it holds promise for rapid prototyping and could revolutionize the way we create and iterate on hardware designs.
7. Career Opportunities in AI and Hardware: Sergiy highlights the exciting career opportunities at Quilter, especially for those with expertise in reinforcement learning, electrical engineering, and DevOps. He encourages interested individuals to apply, noting the innovative and impactful nature of the work being done at Quilter.