AI Is Rewriting Biology | MOONSHOTS

The transcript features a discussion with the CEO of Colossal, a company that began with the ambitious goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth. The speaker explains how what started as a potential side project funding opportunity became a full-time leadership role when they decided to take on the CEO position due to their fascination with the concept. Colossal has since evolved beyond its mammoth revival origins into a parent company that is spinning out approximately a dozen subsidiary companies, each with significant market potential. One notable spinout mentioned is Fraking, their plastic degradation company, which demonstrates how the same biological systems and technologies used for mammoth revival can be repurposed for environmental applications like breaking down plastic waste. The speaker strongly emphasizes the critical role of artificial intelligence in their operations, stating that every company should be or already is an AI company, and that without AI, none of their current work would be possible. The discussion touches on their broader vision of using AI to design and build living products, suggesting a future where biological systems are engineered for various commercial and environmental applications.