Opening Voices

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a software story. It is a compute story. In this full episode of Opening Voices, Quentin Adam speaks with Steeve Morin, founder and CEO of ZML, to explore a fundamental question: who controls the compute layer of AI?Together, they unpack:Why AI makes cloud systems compute-bound againThe real difference between training and inferenceWhy inference will dominate AI workloadsHow stateful systems break 20 years of architecture patternsWhy power, not space, now limits data centersWhether GPUs are a temporary solutionThe rise of TPUs, NPUs and AI-dedicated chipsWhy hardware optionality may define the next decadeAs AI becomes a universal primitive across industries, control shifts from models to infrastructure.This episode connects architecture, economics and semiconductor strategy, and explains why inference may become the industrial foundation of the AI era.Opening Voices is also available on all streaming platforms:Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1001774171Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QTe4gKhsmhWnlLZaUxNo1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/opening-voices/id1806281823Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What happens when AI infrastructure depends on a single compute ecosystem?In this final part of Opening Voices, Quentin Adam concludes his discussion with Steeve Morin, founder and CEO of ZML, to explore how to bring competition back into AI compute. ZML’s approach is simple in principle, difficult in execution: make AI workloads run efficiently on any chip.They discuss:why hardware abstraction is key to breaking vendor dependencyhow optionality of compute changes market dynamicswhy existing hardware can still deliver major efficiency gainshow operating complexity locks companies into single ecosystemswhy open source can accelerate semiconductor competitionThe future of AI will not be decided by models alone, but by who controls the compute layer beneath them.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If AI is to power the entire economy, inference must become affordable, scalable and widely available.In this third part of Opening Voices, Quentin Adam continues the conversation with Steeve Morin, founder and CEO of ZML, to explore what it really takes to industrialise inference. They discuss: why AI must move from “chatbots as products” to AI as an infrastructure primitive why inference will power every sector — banks, startups, industry how efficiency gains (sometimes 5x, 10x, even 100x+) are still possible why GPUs are not the only path forward how new chips (TPUs, NPUs and emerging players) are reopening the semiconductor market why power, density and optimisation now matter more than raw experimentation This episode explains why the next wave is not about building better models, but about making inference economically viable at scale.—Episode Chapters: Making Inference Available00:00 – Introduction and Context01:38 – AI as a Primitive vs. AI as a Product04:19 – The Economic Unit of the Token05:15 – Scaling Compute for Inference07:31 – A Revolution Comparable to Mobile08:43 – Beyond GPUs10:56 – Compiler Errors and Efficiency Waste12:38 – Understanding Chips15:31 – The New "Blue Ocean" of Semiconductors20:40 – Nvidia's Strategy and Competition21:43 – Conclusion and Next EpisodeHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What really separates training a model from running it in production? And why does this difference matter so much at scale?In this second part of Opening Voices, Quentin Adam, CEO of Clever Cloud, continues the discussion with Steeve Morin, founder and CEO of ZML, to clarify a distinction that is often misunderstood.Starting from concrete explanations, Steeve walks through what training and inference actually involve from an engineering and industrial perspective:why training is a one-off research effort, while inference is repeated endlesslywhy “more is better” applies to training, but becomes a liability in productionwhy inference represents the vast majority of compute needshow cost, reliability and margins reshape technical decisionswhy operating systems at scale is fundamentally different from building modelsThis episode helps understand why the real challenge is no longer creating models, but running them reliably, efficiently and sustainably in production.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why does AI suddenly make cloud infrastructure harder to operate, scale and predict? For years, cloud systems were designed around a simple reality: most applications were limited by network and storage, not by computation.In this first part of Opening Voices, Quentin Adam, CEO of Clever Cloud, talks with Steeve Morin, founder and CEO of ZML, about why this reality no longer holds — and what breaks when it does.Drawing from real production experience, Steeve explains:why some workloads push hardware to its limits instead of waiting on I/Ohow sequential computation changes everything for scaling and schedulingwhy memory becomes the real bottleneck long before CPU usagewhy moving workloads around is no longer trivialand why many cloud design patterns simply stop workingThis episode is about understanding why systems that worked for years start failing under new constraints, and what that means for engineers and organisations operating modern platforms.Opening Voices is also available on all streaming platforms:Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1001774171Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QTe4gKhsmhWnlLZaUxNo1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/opening-voices/id1806281823Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do you build Europe's first sovereign high-performance processor from scratch? What does it take to challenge Intel and AMD with just 200 engineers and €150 million?In this comprehensive episode of Opening Voices, I sit down with Philippe Notton (CEO) and Craig Prunty (VP) from SiPearl to explore Europe's most ambitious semiconductor project:🔹 How 200 engineers across 5 R&D sites design a 60 billion gate processor🔹 Why ARM is becoming the new battlefield for server processors🔹 The €20 million data center built to emulate Europe's most complex chip🔹 How hyperscalers like Amazon and Google are driving the custom silicon revolution🔹 Why AI inference on CPUs can be 70x more energy efficient than GPUs🔹 The chiplet revolution and Europe's opportunity in post-Moore's Law era We dive deep into the technical challenges, market dynamics, and geopolitical implications of building sovereign computing infrastructure in Europe.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why are CPUs making a comeback in the age of AI? And how can Europe build a sovereign compute infrastructure in a world dominated by American and Asian tech giants?In this final episode of Opening Voices with the SiPearl team, I sit down with Philippe Notton (CEO) and Craig Prunty (VP) to explore the future of processor design and its impact on AI, sovereignty, and Europe’s industrial strength.We discuss:🔹 Why CPUs can outperform GPUs in inference workloads🔹 How SiPearl’s chip design drastically reduces energy consumption🔹 The growing importance of chiplet architectures for modular compute🔹 Why Europe needs its own electronic design cloud infrastructure🔹 How to reclaim industrial skills and build a sovereign value chain🔹 The difference between SiPearl and ASML in the semiconductor ecosystem🔹 Why sovereignty isn't about isolation—but about control and resilienceWhat role should Europe play in the next wave of AI infrastructure? Join the conversation in the comments.Subscribe for more deep dives into Europe’s tech future.🎧 Opening Voices is also available on all streaming platforms:— Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1001774171— Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QTe4gKhsmhWnlLZaUxNo1— Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/opening-voices/id1806281823Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why are tech giants like Apple, Amazon, and Google building their own processors—and what does it mean for Europe?In this new episode of Opening Voices, I sit down with Craig Prunty, VP at SiPearl, to explore how processor design is becoming a strategic lever for performance, sovereignty, and efficiency.We discuss:🔹 Why ARM is taking over the server market🔹 The real reasons hyperscalers are going boutique in chip design🔹 What makes European players like SiPearl competitive—despite limited funding🔹 The opportunities for Europe to scale its processor ambitions with partners like TSMCJoin the conversation—can Europe reclaim control over its compute infrastructure?Subscribe for more deep dives into the future of European tech.🎧 Opening Voices is also available on all streaming platforms:— Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1001774171— Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QTe4gKhsmhWnlLZaUxNo1— Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/opening-voices/id1806281823Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can Europe bridge the semiconductor gap with the US and Asia—before it’s too late?In this third part of my conversation with Philippe Notton, CEO of SiPearl, we dig into the real-world consequences of Europe's chip dependency and the massive effort required to catch up.🔹 Why Europe is at least two decades behind the US in chip design🔹 How geopolitical shocks like COVID and Ukraine revealed our supply chain fragility🔹 What it takes to rebuild a complete, sovereign semiconductor value chain🔹 Why timing and political will are critical to successJoin the conversation—what's your take on Europe's chip race?Subscribe for more deep dives into the future of European tech.🎧 Opening Voices is also available on all streaming platforms:— Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1001774171— Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QTe4gKhsmhWnlLZaUxNo1— Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/opening-voices/id1806281823Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What’s really at stake if Europe loses control of its semiconductor industry?In this second part of my conversation with Philippe Notton, CEO of SiPearl—the European company designing processors for tomorrow’s supercomputers—we discuss:🔹 The hidden geopolitical stakes of processor independence🔹 Why relying on non-European chips is a critical vulnerability🔹 The economic and strategic cost of lagging behind the US and Asia🔹 How SiPearl is helping Europe catch up—without compromise Join the discussion!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What does it take to build Europe's first high-performance microprocessor company? And why are processors essential to our technological sovereignty?In this episode of Opening Voices, I sit down with Philippe Notton, CEO of SiPearl—a European company designing the processors that will power tomorrow’s supercomputers—to explore:🔹 Why Europe must regain control over its semiconductor infrastructure🔹 How SiPearl is building a sovereign alternative to foreign chipmakers🔹 The critical role of processors in AI, scientific research, and defense🔹 What it means to innovate strategically within a European framework🎧 Opening Voices is also available on all streaming platforms:— Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1001774171— Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QTe4gKhsmhWnlLZaUxNo1— Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/opening-voices/id1806281823Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can Europe reignite its innovation engine and avoid falling behind in the global tech race? What lessons can Europe learn from the US DARPA model?In this pilot episode of Opening Voices, I speak with André Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman of JEDI (Joint European Disruptive Initiative), often called the 'European ARPA,' to explore:🔹 The origins and mission of JEDI in driving disruptive innovation in Europe;🔹 How JEDI's approach to funding advanced research differs from traditional European methods;🔹 The key elements of the DARPA model that Europe can emulate, including a tolerance for failure and a focus on strategic impact;🔹 Why Europe needs a sense of urgency and a willingness to take risks to compete with the US and China.📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into Europe’s tech future.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can Europe turn its incredible scientific potential into global technology leaders? In this episode of Opening Voices, I talk to André Loesekrug-Pietri, President of JEDI (Joint European Disruptive Initiative), to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping Europe's technological future.We discuss:🔹 The role of researchers and universities in creating a dynamic European ecosystem;🔹 The barriers to transforming research into technological innovation;🔹 Why Europe needs to take a bold approach and speed up project delivery;🔹 The revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence on science and research;🔹 The call for European philanthropists to support disruptive initiatives.📢 Join the discussion by sharing your ideas in the comments.🔔 Subscribe to discover more analysis on Europe's technological future.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can Europe overcome its institutional challenges to become a global technology leader? In this episode of Opening Voices, I talk to André Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman of JEDI (Joint European Disruptive Initiative), about the strategic issues shaping the future of research and innovation in Europe.On the programme:🔹 Technological maturity levels (TRL) and their role in research and development;🔹 The importance of linking basic research, applied research and industrialisation;🔹 The challenges posed by European bureaucracy in the face of the agility needed to innovate;🔹 The critical dependence on rare earths and its implications for the energy transition;🔹 How to strengthen the technological intuition of European policy makers.📢 Join the discussion by sharing your thoughts in the comments.🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss out on any upcoming analysis on Europe's technological and sovereign future.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can Europe catch up with the United States and China in terms of cutting-edge technological innovation? What role can bold initiatives like JEDI play in shaping Europe's technological future?In this episode of Opening Voices, I talk with André Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman of JEDI (Joint European Disruptive Initiative), often referred to as the ‘European DARPA’, to discuss:🔹 Why Europe needs a radical new approach to R&D and innovation;🔹 How JEDI is pushing for a paradigm shift in the funding of disruptive technologies;🔹 The challenges and opportunities of building a sovereign and competitive European technology ecosystem;🔹 The lessons Europe can learn from the DARPA model and how to apply them.We address:🔹 The difference between JEDI and DARPA, and why a non-bureaucratic approach is crucial;🔹 The importance of flexibility and risk-taking in disruptive innovation;🔹 The role of highly skilled ‘programme managers’ in innovation management.📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for more in-depth analysis on Europe's tech future.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why does Europe need its own DARPA to stay competitive in deep tech? In this episode of Opening Voices, I talk with André Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman of JEDI (Joint European Disruptive Initiative), about why Europe must rethink its innovation strategy to compete globally.We discuss:🔹 How JEDI is pushing for a radical shift in European research & development🔹 Lessons Europe can learn from the DARPA model🔹 The challenges of funding disruptive deep tech innovation📢 Join the conversation! Drop your thoughts in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into Europe's tech future.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.