From Stars to Code: AI in the Hunt for Planet 9 Calling Occupants of... Planet 9! Welcome to the Making AI Possible Podcast—your monthly deep dive into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and how they’re shaping the world around us. Produced at Caltech in Pasadena, California, this series features in-depth conversations with the people driving AI innovation forward. This podcast series features the latest AI advancements with some of the brightest minds in the field, such as groundbreaking research from AI industry leaders, labs here on campus, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which Caltech manages for NASA. In our September 2 session of Making AI Possible, Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin, sits down with Caltech's Professor Konstantin Batygin, astrophysicist, theorist, and co-discoverer of the proposed Planet 9, for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI will accelerate planetary science. We’ll explore what the search for Planet 9 can teach us about discovery, how coding and computation are transforming research, and where AI may shape the future of space exploration. In true rockstar fashion, we’ll close with a lively discussion on AI and music, along with the next tour stop for his critically acclaimed band, The Seventh Season.
Konstantin Batygin a planetary scientist and professor at Caltech, where he focuses on the dynamics of planets, planetary formation, and celestial mechanics. His work includes theoretical research on the solar system's planets as well as broader studies on exoplanet formation and evolution. In addition to astrophysics, Konstantin is passionate about music and regularly make noises with his band, The Seventh Season. Learn more: gps.caltech.edu/people/konstantin-batygin ♦
As Caltech CTME's Affiliate Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin intersects strategic program development with hands-on curriculum design, positioning AI/ML education programs at the forefront of technological transformation. Leading the AI programs at Caltech's Center for Technology & Management Education, Nicholas' focus is on delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to a diverse clientele, including private and public sectors, as well as government and non-profit organizations.