Beyond the Hype: Embeddings, Foundation Models, and the Future of Earth Observation

Video Description

What does it really take to teach AI to understand our planet? In this episode, Matt sits down with Isaac Corley, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Wherobots and maintainer of TorchGeo, and Christopher Ren, Data Scientist and writer behind some of the most thought-provoking essays on Earth observation and AI. They dive deep into the state of Geospatial AI from embeddings and foundation models to how these tools are reshaping Earth observation and remote sensing. You’ll hear real-world perspectives on what’s working, what’s not, and where the hype outpaces reality. Key topics covered: What "embeddings" actually mean for geospatial and remote sensing How foundation models like AlphaEarth and Tessera are trained The challenges of applying ML at global scale The future of Earth observation data pipelines Why geospatial AI is still the "wild west" If you’ve ever wondered how AI models are built to map, monitor, and understand the Earth, this conversation breaks it down without the buzzwords. LINKS: ISAAC CORLEY Website: https://isaacc.dev/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/isaaccorley X: @isaaccorley_ GitHub: @isaaccorley I’m active in TorchGeo slack: free to join https://join.slack.com/t/torchgeo/shared_invite/zt-22rse667m-eqtCeNW0yI000Tl4B~2PIw CHRISTOPHER REN Blog: https://christopherren.substack.com/ Podcast: Spotify | Apple | Youtube LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherren/ Geovibes/Github: https://github.com/cr458/geovibes 🚀 Ready to move beyond desktop GIS? Step into the Spatial Lab: a global community for ambitious geospatial professionals who want to break out of outdated workflows and join the top 5% of the field. 👉 Join Spatial Lab: https://forrest.nyc/spatial-lab/ 🎓 Want structured, career-changing learning? 🚀 Modern GIS Accelerator: https://forrest.nyc/accelerator/ — master Python, Spatial SQL & cloud workflows in 2 weeks 🧭 Career Compass: https://forrest.nyc/career-compass/ — fast, practical steps to land the GIS role you want 🪄 AI Copilot for GIS: https://forrest.nyc/ai-copilot-for-gis/ — learn to integrate AI into your geospatial workflows & boost your productivity 📰 Weekly modern GIS insights: https://forrest.nyc ⚡️ Spots for the next live cohort and mentorship cycle are closing soon, join now to lock in your place and momentum. CONNECT WITH ME 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_forrest/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbforr/ 📧 Newsletter: https://forrest.nyc 🌐 Website: https://forrest.nyc