Machine Minds
Machine Minds - the minds behind the machines! This is the show where we dive deep into the intricate worlds of robotics, AI, and Hard Tech. In each episode, we bring you intimate conversations with the founders, investors, and trailblazers who are at the heart of these tech revolutions. We dig into their journeys, the challenges they've overcome, and the breakthroughs that are shaping our future. Join us as we explore how these machine minds are transforming the way we live, work, and understand our world.
Machine Minds
Episode 75 | The Unlocking of Confidential Artificial Intelligence | Chester Leung
In this episode, I speak with Chester Leung, co-founder and head of platform architecture at Opaque Systems. Chester shares his journey from a non-technical college student who stumbled into computer science at UC Berkeley to his involvement in cutting-edge data privacy and security research. His story highlights how early academic experiences, including collaboration with renowned faculty and industry partners, led to the creation of Opaque Systems and their groundbreaking work in confidential computing.
We explore what confidential computing actually is—how it allows organizations to analyze and derive insights from sensitive data without exposing it. Chester explains how Opaque’s platform empowers data scientists and engineers to process encrypted data and run machine learning workloads securely and efficiently, all while preserving user privacy and meeting stringent compliance demands.
Chester also discusses the importance of building a resilient team and fostering a culture of ownership and customer-centric thinking. He opens up about the challenges of educating the market on a relatively new concept and the lessons learned from merging academic innovation with real-world commercial needs. Whether you’re curious about the next frontier of data privacy, the practical applications of confidential computing, or the crucial role of trust and integrity in emerging AI systems, this conversation shines a spotlight on the future of secure, privacy-preserving artificial intelligence.
Connect with Chester:
linkedin.com/in/chester-leung
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Connect with me on LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian