Deep Tech Advocate Pablos Holman Discusses Nuclear Energy and Autonomous Shipping on Tim Ferriss Show

New York, NY – A recent episode of "The Tim Ferriss Show" featuring renowned hacker and inventor Pablos Holman, titled "One of the Scariest Hackers I’ve Ever Met (#827)," has garnered significant attention for its deep dive into the future of technology, particularly in the realms of energy and logistics. The episode, released on September 16, 2025, sees Holman advocating for a paradigm shift in technological investment and development.

Holman, known for his work at Blue Origin and Intellectual Ventures Lab, emphasized his focus on "deep tech," which he defines as technologies offering a "10 times better" improvement over existing solutions. He highlighted the vast, often overlooked "trillion-dollar markets" in sectors like energy, shipping, and durable goods, contrasting them with Silicon Valley's traditional focus on software applications. "We've been funding these SaaS holes for decades instead of actual technologies," Holman stated, urging a reorientation towards impactful, hardware-intensive innovations.

A central theme of the discussion was the critical need for advanced energy solutions, with Holman passionately advocating for nuclear fission reactors. He detailed a new reactor design that can be buried a mile deep, describing it as "unquestionably safe" and capable of being mass-produced like automobiles. Holman also noted the unexpected role of hyperscalers like Meta, Microsoft, and Google in driving renewed interest and investment in nuclear power due to their immense energy demands.

Beyond energy, Holman discussed his work on autonomous, self-sailing cargo ships designed to revolutionize global logistics. These vessels, which operate without crew or traditional fuel, aim to address the inefficiencies of current shipping, where "five out of six of those dollars is burned" on fuel. He envisions a future with numerous smaller, more efficient ships that can navigate congested ports and reach remote locations more effectively.

Holman also touched upon the differing technological trajectories of the US and China, suggesting that China's engineering-minded leadership enables faster implementation compared to the US, which he believes is often hampered by a legalistic approach. He underscored the importance of a "possible-ist" mindset, encouraging a focus on long-term, ambitious projects that can be achieved within a decade, inspired by the likes of Jeff Bezos's long-term vision for Blue Origin.