Ep 10: Is AI the new Colonialism?

What do a Stanford professor, a world traveller, and a future-tech dreamer have in common?

When I sat down with Professor James Landay, I wasn’t expecting a crash course in the future of AI, culture, and kitchen appliances, but that’s exactly what I got. James is not your usual academic. He’s spent years helping shape how we use technology, from sketching interfaces with a pen to imagining homes where devices talk to each other.

He’s also lived in Beijing, collaborates globally, and believes AI should help humanity, not just chase clicks. We talked about cultural differences, job fears, open-source models, and what makes good design in a world run by AI.

This one made me rethink everything - from my phone to my fridge!

IN THIS EPISODE

(01:18) Can AI Ever Think Like a Human?

(02:20) The Three Unwritten Rules of Smart AI

(06:01) Why AI Hits Different Around the World

(08:57) Asia Loves AI.. Here’s What the West Missed

(12:49) Your Job or the Bot’s? Let’s Talk.

13:50 | How China’s AI Leapfrogged the West

(19:26) Remember Facebook's Feed? Blame the Bots.

(21:41) Are Politicians Too Old for AI?

(23:33) Forget Screens.. The Future Is You

(25:44) Talk Is Cheap.. Tech Needs Hands Too

(29:14) One Brain, All Devices. Almost There

(32:26) The Next Big Shift? It’s Already Here.

(33:44) Startups vs. Tech Giants: Who'll Win AI's Next Round?

(37:36) Why Coders Can’t Save the World Alone

(41:13) Stuck on Ideas? Go Live a Little.

James Landay

James Landay is a Professor of Computer Science and the Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan Professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford University. He specializes in human-computer interaction. Landay is the co-founder and Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). Prior to joining Stanford, Landay was a Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech in New York City for one year and a Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington for 10 years. 

Wei Qing Jen

Wei Qing Jen is an investor, entrepreneur, and host of Embracing Singularity. With a background in venture capital and deep tech, she’s passionate about exploring how AI intersects with business, society, and humanity. Her conversations cut through hype to uncover practical insights from global thought leaders. When she’s not behind the mic, she’s out building and backing what’s next. 

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About the Embracing Singularity Podcast

What happens when technology rewrites the rules of work, wealth, and meaning?

In this series, investor Peng T. Ong and tech founder Wei Qing Jen sit down with technology trailblazers to explore the future we’re hurtling toward—one shaped by AI, zero marginal cost, and radical shifts in how society functions. Get ready for bold ideas, deep insights, and the urgent questions we all need to ask before the future arrives!