Key Takeaways
- Teng Yan Yau researches crypto and AI, blending his healthcare background with decentralized systems and digital assets.
- He founded Chain of Thought, a research firm sharing insights on AI and blockchain, where he serves as chief advocate.
- Yau started in healthcare, working in clinical care and hospital management before moving into digital health and AI.
Who Is Teng Yan Yau?
Teng Yan Yau is a researcher focused on crypto and AI, with a background in healthcare technology and decentralized systems. He started Chain of Thought, a research company that shares insights on crypto and AI, where he serves as chief advocate. Yau earned his medical degree from the National University of Singapore in 2007 and later completed a Master’s in 2014.
Early Career in Healthcare
Teng Yan Yau began his career in healthcare, working as a senior resident at MOH Holdings from May 2008 to April 2015. During this time, he gained practical experience in clinical care and hospital management at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, and the National Cancer Center. His role allowed him to be involved in various medical cases and healthcare activities.
Military and Public Health Contributions
From March 2009 to July 2010, Yau worked as a healthcare staff officer (captain) in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). In this role, he helped create medical guidelines, reviewed healthcare programs and supported national health projects. He was actively involved in responding to the H1N1 outbreak, gaining experience handling emergencies and organizing large-scale healthcare efforts.
Transition to Digital Health and Data Science
In February 2015, Yau entered the field of healthcare technology by becoming the chief medical officer at Holmusk, a company focused on digital health and data science. He led projects that combined data analysis, behavioral science, and AI-powered tools to improve mental health care and chronic disease management.
Leadership in Digital Therapeutics
In August 2020, Yau took on a new role at Holmusk as chief of digital therapeutics, where he worked on business and product plans for AI-powered healthcare solutions. He helped create digital tools to support patients in managing long-term illnesses and mental health conditions. He stayed in this role until July 2021 and then served as an advisor to Holmusk from July to September 2021.
Entry into Crypto and Blockchain Research
After working for years in healthcare technology, Yau moved into crypto and blockchain research in December 2021. He joined Delphi Digital as head of NFT and consumer research, studying trends in NFTs, digital ownership, and decentralized technologies.
Starting Chain of Thought
In May 2024, Yau founded Chain of Thought, a research company that explores the connection between crypto and AI. As chief evangelist, he leads efforts to share valuable industry insights and bring together investors, developers, and startups working on AI-powered blockchain projects.
Research and Industry Reports
Chain of Thought focuses on detailed research in areas like AI-powered blockchain applications, decentralized computing, AI-focused networks, and how data networks affect the crypto world. The company provides well-researched insights to help professionals, investors, and developers understand and keep up with the fast-changing crypto AI industry.
Educational Resources for the Crypto AI Community
Chain of Thought offers various learning materials to support the industry’s growth. These include a weekly AI newsletter with the latest updates, a clear and detailed guide to explain the basics of AI in crypto and research on different protocols that makes difficult ideas easier to understand.
Advancing Decentralized Intelligence
Chain of Thought is dedicated to improving decentralized intelligence by encouraging teamwork, new ideas, and strong research in the crypto AI space. The company aims to connect AI and blockchain while offering useful insights and well-researched information.
Yau on NFT Trends
In an episode of The Open Metaverse Podcast by Animoca Brands, hosted by Mehtab Farooq, Yau discussed key NFT trends for 2023. He shared how he moved from healthcare data analytics to NFTs, inspired by early blockchain interest and major events during the 2020 DeFi boom.
The conversation covered NFT finance, Solana’s growing NFT scene, creator royalty debates, and the role of perpetual derivatives in trading. They also discussed the changing NFT marketplace and how AI shapes blockchain, showing NFTs as a powerful tool across industries.
The Future of AI-Powered Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are agreements on the blockchain that run automatically. AI can help improve them by making processes faster, detecting fraud, and enabling better decision-making. At Chain of Thought, Yau explores how machine learning can make smart contracts more efficient and reliable in blockchain systems.
Yau’s Vision For Blockchain and AI
Teng Yan Yau believes that AI and blockchain can work together to create a smarter and more open digital world. He wants to help people understand and use these technologies through a Chain of Thought, providing research, insights, and tools for developers, investors, and users. He aims to make AI in Web3 more useful, fair, and transparent, supporting new ideas in automation, decision-making, and finance. By bringing people together and sharing knowledge, he hopes to shape the future of decentralized intelligence in a way that benefits everyone.
Final Thoughts
Teng Yan Yau’s journey from healthcare to crypto and AI shows his ability to grow and lead in new areas. He shares research and knowledge about AI and blockchain through Chain of Thought, helping investors, developers, and users understand these technologies. His goal is to connect AI and blockchain in a way that is useful, fair, and easy to understand, shaping the future of digital technology.
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