Dr. Astro Teller is currently Captain of Moonshots (CEO) of X, Alphabet’s (parent company of Google) moonshot factory for building magical, audacious ideas that through science and technology can be brought to reality. Dr. Teller is also cofounder and a current Director of Cerebellum Capital, Inc, a hedge fund management firm whose investments are continuously designed, executed, and improved by a software system based on techniques from statistical machine learning.

As a respected scientist and seasoned entrepreneur, Dr. Teller has successfully created and grown five companies and holds numerous U.S. patents related to his work in hardware and software technology. Before his tenure as a business executive, Dr. Teller taught at Stanford University and was an engineer and researcher for Phoenix Laser Technologies, Stanford’s Center for Integrated Systems, and The Carnegie Group Inc. Dr. Teller’s work in science, literature, art, and business has appeared in international media and he frequently gives invited talks for national and international technology, government, and business forums on the subjects of innovation and the future of intelligent technology. Additionally, Dr. Teller has written two novels, published many op-ed pieces and journal articles, and coauthored a nonfiction book about marriage and divorce.

At the benefit, Dr. Teller will discuss his company’s moonshot projects, the rapid pace of technology, the challenges this pace presents for STEM education, and ideas about how we will interact with technology in the future.