No Priors Ep. 111 | With KoBold Metals Co-Founder and President Josh Goldman

This week on No Priors, Sarah and Elad are joined by Josh Goldman, Co-Founder and President of KoBold Metals. KoBold is using AI to transform how we discover critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, making the exploration process faster, more precise, and more scalable than traditional methods. In this episode, Josh explains how KoBold is rethinking the fundamentals of mineral exploration by combining unique datasets, scientific modeling, and predictive algorithms. They dive into the company’s driving philosophy and technical approach, how they validate underground hypotheses, and why regulatory knowledge and a localized approach are crucial. Josh also discusses what success looks like in exploration today and the scarcity of world-class deposits. Sign up for new podcasts every week. Email feedback to show@no-priors.com Follow us on Twitter: @NoPriorsPod | @Saranormous | @EladGil | @KoBold_Metals Show Notes: 0:00 Introduction 0:29 KoBold Metals 3:14 Using unique datasets 6:20 Traditional methods of lithium exploration 8:38 Regulatory vs. rarity constraints 13:40 Technical approach 16:25 Validating hypotheses 23:56 Redefining success in mineral exploration 25:44 Scarcity of good projects and deposits 32:44 Philosophy behind prediction 36:46 KoBold’s origin story

Sarah GuohostJosh GoldmanguestElad Gilhost

Apr 17, 202540mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: April 17, 2025
Duration: 40m
Channel: No Priors
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

This week on No Priors, Sarah and Elad are joined by Josh Goldman, Co-Founder and President of KoBold Metals. KoBold is using AI to transform how we discover critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, making the exploration process faster, more precise, and more scalable than traditional methods. In this episode, Josh explains how KoBold is rethinking the fundamentals of mineral exploration by combining unique datasets, scientific modeling, and predictive algorithms. They dive into the company’s driving philosophy and technical approach, how they validate underground hypotheses, and why regulatory knowledge and a localized approach are crucial. Josh also discusses what success looks like in exploration today and the scarcity of world-class deposits. Sign up for new podcasts every week. Email feedback to show@no-priors.com Follow us on Twitter: @NoPriorsPod | @Saranormous | @EladGil | @KoBold_Metals Show Notes: 0:00 Introduction 0:29 KoBold Metals 3:14 Using unique datasets 6:20 Traditional methods of lithium exploration 8:38 Regulatory vs. rarity constraints 13:40 Technical approach 16:25 Validating hypotheses 23:56 Redefining success in mineral exploration 25:44 Scarcity of good projects and deposits 32:44 Philosophy behind prediction 36:46 KoBold’s origin story

SPEAKERS

Sarah Guo
host
Josh Goldman
guest
Elad Gil
host

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of No Priors, featuring Sarah Guo and Josh Goldman, No Priors Ep. 111 | With KoBold Metals Co-Founder and President Josh Goldman explores aI-Powered Mineral Exploration Reshapes Global Supply of Copper and Lithium Josh Goldman, co-founder and president of KoBold Metals, explains how the company uses AI, novel sensors, and massive geoscience datasets to dramatically improve the success rate of mineral exploration. Rather than operating mines, KoBold focuses on the high-upside, high-failure exploration phase, treating discovery as an information and prediction problem. The conversation covers KoBold’s large global portfolio, its world-class Mingomba copper discovery in Zambia, its custom technology stack, and its philosophy-driven approach to uncertainty and scientific method. Goldman also situates these efforts within the macro need to supply metals for batteries, electrification, and AI-driven data center growth.

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