The Neil Ashton Podcast

• S3 EP5 - Joris Poort - CEO and Founder of Rescale

  In this episode, Joris Poort, CEO and founder of Rescale, shares his personal journey on founding Rescale as well as his thoughts on the future of CAE. He discusses the challenges of introducing HPC to the cloud market, the traits that make successful founders, and the importance of perseverance and execution in entrepreneurship. Joris reflects on the early days of Rescale, the significance of early investors, and the evolving landscape of cloud computing and AI integration in engineering. The conversation highlights the complexities of transitioning to cloud solutions and the future potential of HPC in various industries. In this conversation, Joris discusses the transformative impact of AI on engineering, particularly in the context of inference, simulation, and automation. He emphasizes the importance of efficiency in engineering processes and how AI can significantly reduce the time required for complex simulations. The discussion also touches on the cultural shifts within organizations as they adapt to AI technologies, the potential for AI surrogates to revolutionize engineering practices, and the challenges of closing the sim-to-real gap. Joris offers insights for aspiring founders, encouraging them to pursue meaningful work that can drive innovation and societal progress.Chapters00:00 Introductions03:30 The Genesis of Rescale: A Cloud Computing Journey05:21 From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: The Leap of Faith09:28 Traits of a Successful Founder: Courage and Perseverance14:51 Tactical Steps to Startup Success: Building from the Ground Up22:10 Milestones and Breakthroughs: The Early Days of Rescale30:54 Navigating Challenges: The Role of Cloud Providers in HPC35:24 The Intersection of HPC and AI Training37:05 Cloud vs On-Premise: The Cost Debate39:54 Complexities of HPC in Enterprises42:27 The Slow Shift to Cloud Adoption44:34 Optimizing Workloads with Rescale46:50 Usability Challenges in Enterprise Software48:32 The Rise of Neo Clouds and Competition51:18 Speed and Efficiency in AI Training54:34 AI's Transformative Impact on Engineering58:54 The Future of AI Surrogates in Design01:03:28 Agentic AI: The New Paradigm in Engineering01:14:21 Solving Real Business Problems01:19:26 The Impact of AI on Engineering01:22:27 Innovation in Aerospace and Beyond01:25:19 Cultural Change in Organizations01:28:34 The Future of AI and Engineering01:39:09 Advice for Aspiring FoundersKeywordsHPC, cloud computing, startup journey, Rescale, entrepreneurship, AI, technology, innovation, engineering, business, AI, engineering, inference, simulation, automation, digital twin, innovation, aerospace, machine learning, technology

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• S3 EP4 - 5 tips for CAE engineers in the era of AI

  In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Neil discusses the impact of AI on CAE engineering, providing five essential tips for engineers to thrive in this evolving landscape. The conversation covers the importance of maintaining an open mind, continuous education, and preparing for AI physics applications. It also delves into the build vs. buy dilemma for AI solutions and the emerging concept of agentic AI, which promises to revolutionize engineering practices.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and AI in Engineering01:03 Five Tips for CAE Engineers in the Era of A101:24 1: Keeping an Open Mind 07:39 2: Understanding AI Physics and Its Applications13:30 3: Preparing for AI Implementation in Engineering18:54 4: The Build vs. Buy Dilemma in AI Solutions22:20 5: The Future of Agentic AI in Engineering

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• S3 EP3 - Professor Johannes Brandstetter on AI for Computational Fluid Dynamics

  In this conversation, Neil Ashton interviews Prof. Johannes Brandstetter, a physicist turned machine learning expert, about his journey from academia to industry, focusing on the application of machine learning in engineering and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). They discuss the Aurora project, the challenges of integrating machine learning with engineering, and the importance of data in training models. Johannes shares insights on the use of transformers in modeling, the significance of resolution independence, and the role of open-source practices in advancing the field. The conversation also touches on the challenges of founding a startup and the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex engineering problems.Links: Github: https://brandstetter-johannes.github.ioEmmi AI: https://www.emmi.aiGoogle scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KiRvOHcAAAAJ&hl=deAB-UPT transform paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.09692Chapters00:00 Introduction to Johannes Brandstetter07:10 The Aurora Project and Key Learnings11:15 Machine Learning in Engineering and CFD17:19 Challenges with Mesh Graph Networks20:16 Transformers in Physics Modeling31:14 Tokenization in CFD with Transformers39:58 Challenges in High-Dimensional Meshes41:08 Inference Time and Mesh Generation41:36 Neural Operators and CAD Geometry45:59 Anchor Tokens and Scaling in CFD48:40 Data Dependency and Multi-Fidelity Models50:32 The Role of Physics in Machine Learning54:28 Temporal Modeling in Engineering Simulations56:58 Learning from Temporal Dynamics1:00:58 Stability in Rollout Predictions1:03:48 Multidisciplinary Approaches in Engineering1:05:18 The Startup Journey and Lessons Learned

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• S3 EP2 - Prof. Russell Cummings - World leader in Aerospace Engineering and Hypersonics

  In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Professor Russell Cummings shares his extensive journey through the fields of aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics and hypersonics. He discusses his early inspirations, his early days at University and the Hughes Aircraft Company - a key time during this life. He also talks about  the cyclical nature of hypersonics research, and the challenges faced in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Prof. Cummings emphasizes the importance of perseverance in engineering careers and the need for collaboration between experimental and computational methods. He also shares insights on the role of AI in hypersonics and offers valuable advice for aspiring engineers.Prof. Russ Cummings graduated from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) with a B.S. and M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, before receiving his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California; he also received a B.A. in music from Cal Poly. He is currently Professor of Aeronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Director of the Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute. Prior to this he was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly, where he also served as department chairman for four years. He also worked at Hughes Aircraft Company, and completed a National Research Council postdoctoral research fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center, working on the computation of high angle-of-attack flowfields. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.Distribution Statement A: approved for public release, PA# USAFA-DF-2025-652. The views expressed in this interview are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force Academy, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.LinksAerodynamics for engineers: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/engineering/aerospace-engineering/aerodynamics-engineers-7th-edition?format=HB&isbn=9781009501309RAeS Lanchester Named Lecture 2024: Frederick W. Lanchester and 'Aerodynamics' https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=lApNzYaZOmk&t=884s NASA at 50 (Prof Cummings is in the picture): https://images.nasa.gov/details/ARC-1989-AC89-0276-6 Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest04:56 Professor Russell Cummings: A Journey Through Engineering31:14 The Evolution of Hypersonics Research58:26 The Role of AI in Hypersonics and CFD01:37:55 Advice for Aspiring Engineers

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• S3 EP1 - Prof. Mike Giles - A CFD and Computational Finance Pioneer

  In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Professor Mike Giles shares his extensive journey through the fields of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational finance and HPC. He discusses his early academic influences, his early days at Cambridge, internships at Rolls-Royce, his transition to MIT and Oxford where he made significant contributions to high-performance computing and numerical analysis. The conversation highlights his hands-on approach to research and teaching, as well as his pioneering work in Monte Carlo methods and GPU computing. This conversation explores the journey of a mathematician and engineer from MIT to Rolls-Royce and then to Oxford, highlighting the evolution of computational engineering, the development of the Hydra code, and the transition from CFD to financial applications.  In this conversation, the speaker reflects on their journey through burnout, career transitions, and the evolution of their work in computational finance and numerical analysis. They discuss the challenges of managing large software projects, the shift from Hydra code development to finance, and the integration of advanced methodologies in their work. The conversation also touches on the role of high-performance computing, the impact of AI on research, and advice for the next generation of students pursuing careers in mathematics and programming.Links:https://people.maths.ox.ac.uk/gilesm/Chapters00:00 Introduction 06:25 Professor Mike Giles: A Journey Through CFD and Finance17:30 Early Academic Influences and Career Path29:34 Transition to MIT and Early Research40:01 High-Performance Computing and Its Impact41:30 Navigating Between MIT and Rolls-Royce44:54 The Evolution of Research at MIT48:47 Transitioning to Oxford and the Role of Rolls-Royce51:07 The Genesis of the Hydra Code01:00:47 The Role of Conferences in Engineering01:10:58 The Shift from CFD to Financial Applications01:21:30 Navigating Burnout and Career Transitions01:24:04 Shifting Focus: From Hydrocode to Computational Finance01:29:30 Bridging Mathematics and Finance: Methodologies and Techniques01:35:09 The Role of High-Performance Computing in Modern Research01:39:20 AI's Impact on Research and Future Directions01:54:00 Advice for the Next Generation: Pursuing Passion and Skills

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