AI and Society: War, Work and Free Will with Stanford HAI Digital Fellow Alvin Graylin

In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Alvin Graylin, Digital Fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI and creator of the Abundantism framework, joins host Boaz Ashkenazy for a bold and wide-ranging conversation on the future of AI and humanity. With a background that spans investing, international leadership, and advanced academic research, Alvin offers a rare, global lens on how we can — and must — steer AI toward positive societal outcomes.

Together, Boaz and Alvin explore three potential AI futures — from Mad Max to Star Trek — and discuss how we can avoid a descent into dystopia by reframing our economic systems, rethinking employment, and redefining human value. The conversation touches on the AI Bill of Rights, the risks of sovereign “gladiator AIs,” and how a new GI Bill for the AI age could help millions transition into a post-labor economy.

If you’re curious about AI’s geopolitical risks, employment disruption, or how we might architect a truly abundant society, this is an essential listen.

Chapters

[01:55] Alvin Graylin's Background: Stanford, XR, Global Ventures

[05:13] Why the Next 5–10 Years Matter for Humanity

[08:04] The Three Futures: Mad Max, Elysium, and Star Trek

[13:33] “Winning the Wrong Race” — The AGI Race and Policy Pitfalls

[17:02] The Real Threat: Bad Actors and Rogue AI Use

[18:40] AI and the Collapse of Traditional Employment

[20:39] What 15–25% Unemployment Could Mean for Society

[23:02] The AI Bill of Rights and the Need for New Protections

[27:10] Surveillance, Data, and Manipulation Risks

[29:52] From Scarcity to Abundantism: The Shift in Mindset

[32:40] Guardian AI vs Gladiator AI: What We Should Be Building

[35:04] The GI Bill for the AI Age and the Need for Soft Landings

[42:03] Start / Stop / Keep: Alvin’s Advice to Tech Leaders

[45:49] Redefining Value: The Two Words That Shape the Future

Connect with Alvin Graylin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agraylin/ X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/agraylin

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy Email: info@shiftai.fm

The Shift AI Podcast is syndicated by Geekwire and produced by Crumpled Ink Media.

Special thanks to Augmented AI Labs and Clause for sponsoring this episode.