#330 Harnessing AI to Help Humanity with Professor Sandy Pentland, HAI Fellow at Stanford, Co-founder of MIT Media Lab

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Nov 10, 2025

In this conversation with Alex 'Sandy' Pentland, a renowned computational scientist and co-founder of the MIT Media Lab, he explores how storytelling with data enables better decision-making. He discusses AI’s potential to enhance human deliberation instead of replacing it, the importance of diverse networks for innovation, and the concept of community-aware AIs that respect privacy. Pentland also emphasizes using AI to reduce polarization by revealing shared viewpoints and shares insights on AI's role in transforming communication and commerce.

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INSIGHT

Stories Are Modest Theories

Stories are modest theories that explain data but accept being wrong sometimes.
Alex Pentland argues calling explanations "stories" keeps us humble and open to revision.

ADVICE

Use AI To Amplify Human Deliberation

Use AI to connect people and facilitate discussion, not to replace human judgment.
Apply tools like deliberation.io to decide things while preserving human deliberation.

ADVICE

Collect Cross‑Domain Stories Regularly

Actively collect stories from diverse peers to expand your problem-solving repertoire.
Build regular cross-domain conversations (coffee, chats) to stay aware of upcoming ideas.

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Data storytelling isn't just about presenting numbers—it's about creating shared wisdom that drives better decision-making. In our increasingly polarized world, we often miss that most people actually have reasonable views hidden behind the loudest voices. But how can technology help us cut through the noise and build genuine understanding? What if AI could help us share stories across different communities and contexts, making our collective knowledge more accessible? From reducing unnecessary meetings to enabling more effective collaboration, the way we exchange information is evolving rapidly. Are you prepared for a future where AI helps us communicate more effectively rather than replacing human judgment?

Professor Alex “Sandy” Pentland is a leading computational scientist, co-founder of the MIT Media Lab and Media Lab Asia, and a HAI Fellow at Stanford. Recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful data scientists, he played a key role in shaping the GDPR through the World Economic Forum and contributed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as one of the Secretary General’s “Data Revolutionaries.” His accolades include MIT’s Toshiba Chair, election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the Harvard Business Review McKinsey Award, and the DARPA 40th Anniversary of the Internet Award. Pentland has served on advisory boards for organizations such as the UN Secretary General, UN Foundation, Consumers Union, and formerly for the OECD, Google, AT&T, and Nissan. Companies originating from his lab have driven major innovations, including India’s Aadhaar digital identity system, Alibaba’s news and advertising arm, and the world’s largest rural health service network.

His more recent ventures span mental health (Ginger.io), AI interaction management (Cogito), delivery optimization (Wise Systems), financial privacy (Akoya), and fairness in social services (Prosperia). A mentor to over 80 PhD students—many now leading in academia, research, or entrepreneurship—Pentland helped pioneer fields such as computational social science, wearable computing, and modern biometrics. His books include Social Physics, Honest Signals, Building the New Economy, and Trusted Data.

In the episode, Richie and Sandy explore the role of storytelling in data and AI, how technology reshapes our narratives, the impact of AI on decision-making, the importance of shared wisdom in communities, and much more.

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