The Next Big Thing: A Megatrends Podcast

Mining is becoming one of the first industries to deploy physical AI at scale, offering a glimpse into how AI could transform heavy industry.

In this episode of The Next Big Thing, we speak with Yudong Liu from Eacon about how physical AI is transforming the mining industry. We explore the rise of autonomous haul trucks, why mining has become an early adopter of AI at scale, and what it takes to build reliable autonomous systems in some of the world's harshest operating environments.

The conversation also covers the economics of autonomous mining, the role of safety and efficiency, how AI is reshaping industrial operations, and why mining could provide an early blueprint for the wider adoption of physical AI across heavy industry.

For decades, space has been about exploration, satellites and rockets. But what if its biggest opportunity is manufacturing?

In this episode of The Next Big Thing, we explore how space is becoming a new frontier for industrial production. We speak with Jacques Fossey, CTO of BioOrbit, about how microgravity is opening up entirely new possibilities for manufacturing, particularly in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

We discuss why certain medicines can be manufactured more effectively in orbit, how falling launch costs are making commercial space manufacturing increasingly viable, and why the next generation of space stations could become automated production facilities. The conversation also explores the future of in-space research, the role of SpaceX and commercial launch providers, and how manufacturing beyond Earth could reshape industries ranging from healthcare to advanced materials.

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries around the world. But beneath every AI model sits an increasingly complex infrastructure stack powering it all.

In this episode of The Next Big Thing, we speak with Dylan Patel, founder of SemiAnalysis, about the technologies underpinning the AI revolution. From GPUs, memory and networking to data centres, energy and power infrastructure, the conversation explores how every layer of the AI stack is evolving to meet unprecedented demand.

We discuss the rise of AI agents, why CPUs are becoming increasingly important alongside GPUs, the changing role of memory and networking, and why power generation is emerging as one of the biggest constraints on AI growth. The episode also explores how companies across the semiconductor and infrastructure ecosystem are responding to one of the largest industrial buildouts in decades.

Rare earths are no longer just a niche mining story.

They sit at the centre of some of the most important trends shaping the global economy, from electric vehicles and robotics to AI infrastructure, drones and defence systems. Yet the real challenge is not simply finding these materials. It is building the supply chains needed to process them and turn them into the products modern industry depends on.

In this episode of The Next Big Thing, we speak with Ryan Corbett, Chief Financial Officer of MP Materials, about the race to rebuild rare earth supply chains. We explore China's dominance across mining, refining and magnet production, why NdPr is emerging as a critical bottleneck, and why demand is broadening well beyond electric vehicles. The conversation also examines the role of industrial policy, supply chain security and vertical integration in building a resilient materials ecosystem.

As breakthroughs continue across the industry, the focus is increasingly shifting towards how quantum technologies can be deployed to solve real-world problems.

In this episode of The Next Big Thing, we explore the software, algorithms and platforms helping drive the quantum revolution. The conversation examines how organisations are preparing for a quantum-enabled future, how hybrid quantum-classical workflows are emerging, and why software is becoming a critical bridge between quantum hardware and practical applications.

We discuss the growing momentum across the quantum ecosystem, the role of AI in accelerating quantum development, and how enterprises are building quantum-ready capabilities today. The episode also explores what investors should watch as the industry evolves and why software may play a central role in unlocking the next generation of quantum applications.