In this insightful conversation, Google's Chief Scientist Jeff Dean sits down with YC's Diana Hu at Startup School 2026 to explore the evolution of AI, from the foundational decisions that made Google search fast to the cutting-edge hardware and strategies shaping the future of machine learning. Dean shares the thought experiments behind the TPU, introduces his '1% Rule' for founders, and discusses the importance of context engineering, persistence, and developing a keen sense of taste in a rapidly changing field.