What if the most powerful new protocol in AI wasn’t being shaped in Silicon Valley… but in a basement in North Idaho?
Enter Paul Swaim and Garrett Oetken, two innovators who went from community college hallway conversations to becoming key architects of BitTensor, a $3B+ decentralized AI network reshaping the future of work, research, and economic contribution.
Garrett dropped out of college. Paul spent years as an IT leader working at one. Both found themselves in North Idaho, guided by curiosity and a shared desire to make a meaningful impact. As they got pulled into the innovation culture blossoming in Coeur d’Alene, they began to dream bigger about what they could build, and who they could become.
Together, they co-founded a startup and went on to help create the leading global, merit-based AI economy that rewards contributors, not credentials.
This isn’t just a tech story.
It’s a blueprint for how small towns can birth big revolutions.
Chapters
04:08 The Evolution of Technology and Infrastructure
09:26 Digital Transformation in Education
11:50 Building Infrastructure in Rural Areas
15:23 Decentralized Future and Community Ownership
17:44 The Future of Energy and Nuclear Innovations
30:49 Building Community for Entrepreneurship
32:35 The Emergence of Blockchain and Innovation
33:19 Understanding BitTensor and Its Mechanisms
36:57 The Role of Miners and Validators in BitTensor
40:26 Incentive Mechanisms and Competition in Subnets
52:54 Monetizing Data and the Future of AI Innovation
56:58 Introduction to Macrocosmos and Its Team
58:11 Understanding Protein Folding and Its Applications
59:43 The Future of Work and Merit-Based Protocols
01:02:21 Decentralized Approaches Beyond AI
01:05:47 Real-World Applications and Community Engagement
01:08:14 The Role of Education in a Changing Landscape
01:12:59 Building a New Future Together
01:16:50 Engaging with the BitTensor Community