Can AI Solve Our Biggest Problems?

4 Dec, 2016 12:00 AM

Scott Phoenix, cofounder of Vicarious, believes smart machines could one day cure cancer, create new forms of energy, and solve virtually every problem that humans simply can’t. With the support of investors like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, Vicarious is striving to bring about this future in our lifetimes.

More From Challengers

The next generation of companies to change the world.

Challengers

Air Jordan Designer’s Lessons for Startups

Challengers

Air Jordan Designer’s Lessons for Startups

While there have been an array of challenges for startups during COVID-19, Jason Mayden is preparing for long-term success in a post-pandemic world.

By Doug Dais

While there have been an array of challenges for startups during COVID-19, Jason Mayden is preparing for long-term success in a post-pandemic world.

Challengers

This Carbon-Negative Dream House Ships In A Box

Challengers

This Carbon-Negative Dream House Ships In A Box

A startup described as the “IKEA of houses” is determined to make beautifully-designed, energy efficient homes affordable for everyone.

By Doug Dais

A startup described as the “IKEA of houses” is determined to make beautifully-designed, energy efficient homes affordable for everyone.

Challengers

This Virtual World Could Be the Next Fortnite

Challengers

This Virtual World Could Be the Next Fortnite

This virtual universe has already captured the interest of thousands of gamers and it stands to make a positive impact in the gaming industry as a whole.

By Doug Dais

This virtual universe has already captured the interest of thousands of gamers and it stands to make a positive impact in the gaming industry as a whole.

Challengers

Preschool is Broken. Silicon Valley is Fixing the System.

Challengers

Preschool is Broken. Silicon Valley is Fixing the System.

Wonderschool is empowering educators to offer affordable, private preschool classes from their homes, making early childhood education more accessible to every child.

By Doug Dais

Wonderschool is empowering educators to offer affordable, private preschool classes from their homes, making early childhood education more accessible to every child.

Challengers

How VR Could Change Your Life

Challengers

How VR Could Change Your Life

Virtual reality could alter the human experience forever.

Imagine if you could climb Mount Everest and go on stage at a Beyonce concert with your friends...before breakfast. Linc Gasking and his team of visual effects experts at 8i thinks they can make holograms of humans so real, that VR will go mainstream and they’ll alter the human experience forever.

Challengers

Building a Better School System

Challengers

Building a Better School System

A highly-personalized experience could be the foundation for the future of education.

Everyone wants America’s education system to do better. Ex-Googler Max Ventilla has a radical idea for how to make it happen. Ventilla’s AltSchool is building a highly-personalized education experience that gets better and cheaper as more students use it.

Challengers

Powering the World With Nuclear

Challengers

Powering the World With Nuclear

Transatomic believes they've figured out a safe, scalable, cost-effective way to power the world with nuclear.

Transatomic is designing a nuclear reactor that can produce a lot more electricity than a conventional reactor, while creating a lot less nuclear waste. But they’ll need to take on a deeply entrenched industry and convince a cautious public that they can safely harness the most powerful energy in the world.

Challengers

An App for Global Trade

Challengers

An App for Global Trade

Flexport thinks bringing trade into the 21st century could improve lives around the globe.

Flexport believes that nothing helps people improve their lives more than the ability to trade with one another. And, yet international shipping is still way too cumbersome. So Flexport built an in app to make it easier. If Flexport succeeds, nearly everything you buy will cost less.

Fast Company presents a Freethink original series about entrepreneurs building companies that could transform entire industries and change the world.

Across the globe, entrepreneurs are racing to develop new businesses that could dramatically improve people’s lives. But startups are hard work, and success is far from guaranteed. Join us as we profile the next generation of challenger companies on their journey to transform an entire industry—and change the world.