这个 A16Z 的播客节目深入探讨了2025年的几个重要构想，重点关注硬件和软件的交叉领域以及虚拟模拟在物理世界中日益重要的作用。对话涵盖了技能差距、地球观测数据的潜力以及游戏技术在企业解决方案中不断演变的角色。 第一个环节由 Aaron Price-Ray 讨论了弥合硬件-软件鸿沟的技术学科的复兴。他指出，对拥有“全栈”硬件专业知识的工程师的需求日益增长，包括电气、机械和控制工程，尤其是在国防、制造业、暖通空调、水处理以及石油和天然气等正在经历自动化的行业中。在软件占据主导地位的二十年后，现在急需能够将 AI 和软件集成到复杂硬件系统中的专业人士。Price-Ray 指出，这种需求尚未完全反映在学位课程中，但越来越多的公司正在从佐治亚理工学院和科罗拉多矿业学院等以强大的工程专业著称的院校寻找人才。他强调，正在创造新的工作岗位，这些工作岗位不一定需要四年制学位，例如机器人维修技师、机器人远程操作员和半导体制造人员，这都得益于《芯片法案》。在解决劳动力缺口问题时，Price-Ray 呼吁公司培养一种激励人们追求在充满挑战的硬件领域职业生涯的文化。他还强调，美国需要重建其由自主驱动的制造业能力，以减少对外国势力的依赖。 第二个环节由 Millen 主讲，重点关注蓬勃发展的地球观测领域。他强调，由于发射成本的降低以及卫星技术和通信基础设施的进步，地球观测卫星数量最近激增。这导致了大量地球观测数据的涌入，为企业家们构建针对各行业的垂直解决方案创造了机会。虽然存在大量的免费数据，但其他商业公司也提供数据，价格范围从每平方公里 1 美元到 5 美元不等。Millen 认为，下一步是企业家们为特定行业量身定制这些解决方案，提供自动化而不仅仅是分析，并一次性解决整个地球的问题。他指出，农业（作物监测和产量预测）、国防（部队调动和船舶监测）和能源（太阳能发电预测）等领域已经存在应用。然而，一个重大挑战是处理地球观测数据的复杂性，目前这需要专业的知识。Millen 建议需要中间件来抽象掉每个星座的细微差别。他对地球观测解决能源领域挑战的潜力感到特别兴奋。 最后一个环节由 Troy Kerwin 主讲，重点讨论了游戏（本质上是虚拟模拟）现在如何在现实世界中使用。他认为，游戏技术曾经主要用于娱乐，现在正被各行各业用于培训、机器人和可视化目的。他强调，GPU 和多人游戏技术都是通过游戏诞生的，然后扩展到其他用例。创新在游戏行业备受推崇，因此出现突破并不奇怪。三个有利因素正在推动这一趋势：AI驱动的内容创作、神经辐射场等 3D 捕捉技术以及 XR（扩展现实）设备的日益普及。借助这些新技术，内容创作的内容成本大幅下降。某个已建成事物的捕获版本会集成到环境中。过去，你需要构建一个虚拟模拟，构建完成后，任何更改都必须由外包机构完成。现在，可以不断改进这些内容。这些技术允许进行规模化的模拟，不仅可以扩展数据量，还可以添加在现实世界中永远不会遇到的边缘和极端情况。自主性与这些虚拟模拟有着深厚的联系。随着技术的不断成熟，Kerwin 设想了更多面向消费者的应用程序。他还提到了新兴的人机交互领域。

This A16Z podcast episode delves into several big ideas for 2025, focusing on the intersection of hardware and software and the increasing role of virtual simulations in the physical world. The conversation spans skill gaps, the potential of Earth observation data, and the evolving role of gaming technology in enterprise solutions. The first segment features Aaron Price-Ray discussing a renaissance in technical disciplines that bridge the hardware-software divide. He notes the growing demand for engineers with "full stack" hardware expertise, encompassing electrical, mechanical, and controls engineering, particularly in industries undergoing automation, such as defense, manufacturing, HVAC, water treatment, and oil & gas. After two decades where software dominated, there's a surge in the need for professionals who can integrate AI and software into complex hardware systems. Price-Ray points out that the demand isn't necessarily reflected in degree programs yet, but companies are increasingly seeking talent from institutions like Georgia Tech and Colorado School of Mines, known for strong engineering programs. He emphasizes the creation of new jobs that don't necessarily require a four-year degree, such as technicians servicing robots, robotic teleoperators, and semiconductor manufacturing employees, driven by the Chips Act. Addressing the labor gap, Price-Ray calls for companies to cultivate a culture that inspires individuals to pursue careers in the gritty, challenging world of hardware. He also stresses the need for the U.S. to rebuild its manufacturing capabilities, driven by autonomy, to become less reliant on foreign powers. The second segment, with Millen, focuses on the burgeoning field of Earth observation. He highlights the recent surge in Earth observation satellites due to decreased launch costs and advancements in satellite technology and communication infrastructure. This has resulted in a massive influx of Earth observation data, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to build verticalized solutions for various industries. Although a lot of free data exists, other commercial companies provide data as well and the prices range from $1 to $5 per kilometer squared. Millen believes the next step is for entrepreneurs to tailor these solutions to specific industries, providing automation instead of just analytics, and solve problems for the entire Earth at once. He points to existing applications in agriculture (crop monitoring and yield prediction), defense (troop movement and ship monitoring), and energy (solar production forecasting). A significant challenge, however, is the complexity of working with Earth observation data, which currently requires specialized knowledge. Millen suggests a need for middleware that can abstract away the nuances of each constellation. He is particularly excited about the potential for Earth observation to solve challenges in the energy sector. The final segment with Troy Kerwin, centers on how gaming, essentially virtual simulations, is now being used in the real world. He argues that gaming technology, once primarily for entertainment, is now being adopted for training, robotics, and visualization purposes across various industries. He emphasizes GPUs and multiplayer technology as being birthed through gaming and then expanding into other use cases. Innovation is celebrated in the gaming industry, so it's no surprise that breakthroughs have emerged. Three tailwinds are driving this trend: AI-powered content creation, 3D capture techniques like neural radiance fields, and the increasing prevalence of XR (extended reality) devices. Content creation's content costs are dropping dramatically with these new technologies. The captured version of something as built is integrated into the environment. In the past, you would build a virtual simulation and after it's built, any changes would have to be completed by the outsources agency. Now, that content can constantly be improved. These technologies allow for scaled simulation, to scale the amount of data, but also to add fringe and edge cases that would never be experienced in the real world. Autonomy is deeply rooted with these virtual simulations. As the technology continues to mature, Kerwin envisions more consumer-facing applications. He also touches on the emerging field of human-machine interaction.