Paul Allen, founder of Ancestry.com and Soar, discusses how genAI studios launch AI-first companies
Oct 30, 2023
38:46
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Paul Allen, founder of Ancestry.com and Soar, discusses the importance of humility in disruptive innovation, the flaws of traditional education, the potential of AI to restore lost human connections, and the ethical considerations of being an AI publisher. He also explores the founding vision of Soar and their plans for innovative services.
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Quick takeaways
Paul Allen emphasizes the need for a people-centric approach to AI, believing that embracing AI can lead to human flourishing and fulfillment.
Allen highlights the significance of personalized approaches to education that allow for individual discovery and growth, advocating for hybrid learning options that cater to each person's unique strengths and potential.
Deep dives
The Power and Potential of Technology to Benefit Humanity
Paul Allen, the founder of ancestry.com and SOAR, discusses the potential of technology to improve human lives. He shares his journey as a technology entrepreneur and how he has realized the importance of considering the human cost of disruptive innovation. Allen emphasizes the need for a people-centric approach to AI and believes that if more people globally embrace AI, it can lead to human flourishing and fulfillment. He acknowledges the challenge of ensuring responsible and ethical use of AI, particularly in dealing with deep fakes, and proposes solutions like blockchain and timestamping to authenticate and verify content. Allen also highlights the significance of openness, transparency, and user ratings in guiding the adoption of AI tools and applications.
Creating a Bright Future of Learning
Allen discusses the future of education and learning, drawing from his experience as a parent and an entrepreneur. He reflects on the limitations of the traditional factory model education system and suggests personalized approaches that allow for individual discovery and growth. Allen is optimistic about the potential of remote work and decoupling geography from livelihood to provide people with a more fulfilling and quality life. He advocates for personalized and hybrid learning options that can cater to each person's unique strengths and potential. Allen also emphasizes the crucial role of relationships, friendships, and deep connections in human well-being, and sees AI playing a part in facilitating and enhancing those relationships.
Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Responsible AI Use
Allen acknowledges the concerns surrounding the potential risks and misuse of AI. He shares his faith-driven perspective on the purpose of humanity and the belief that AI will not be the end of civilization. However, he cautions against the possibility of AI concentration and exploitation by governments and corporations, emphasizing the need for a balance between those using technology for good and those driven by personal gain. Allen discusses the importance of legislation, self-regulation, and a shared commitment to ethical and responsible AI use. He also explores the role of blockchain, timestamps, and authentication systems in combating deep fakes and misinformation, as well as the potential of technology to strengthen democracy and protect against context manipulation.
SOAR: Enhancing Human Experience Through Creative AI Applications
Allen shares insights into SOAR, an AI studio focused on creating innovative AI applications. He discusses the vision behind SOAR, which aims to build a reusable tech stack for various vertical markets, partnering with legacy brands that are on the verge of disruption. Allen highlights specific projects within SOAR, such as Citizen Portal, a searchable platform for public meeting videos, and various portals catering to faith, learning, entrepreneurship, and friendship. He emphasizes the importance of responsible AI development by prioritizing inclusivity, avoiding bias, and ensuring meaningful connections. Allen envisions SOAR's role in bridging gaps in human experiences and enhancing democracy through AI-powered platforms.
Today's guest has been bringing families together online since 1997 when he founded Ancestry.com which has served more than 13 billion profiles, amassed 40 billion people records, and generated over a billion dollars in revenue. He followed that up with FamilyLink which he founded in 2007 and today has more than 50 million users.
For the past several years, Paul Allen has been on a new adventure having founded Soar.com in 2017. He and the team are connecting employees to stories from trusted sources to help them make better, more informed decisions.
Soar indexes millions of hours of video and audio content in domains as diverse as academic lectures, political hearings, and stump speeches. Not surprisingly, he and the team are using AI to make all that content discoverable and accessible.
Paul is a sought after speaker, a director of the Human Justice Foundation, and is one of the most mission-driven entrepreneurs of our generation.
Listen and learn...
Paul's number one business lesson
How Paul "uplifts humanity" with AI
Why the "factory education system" doesn't work
Why AGI won't be the end of civilization
How an AI studio for audio transcription works
The role of CitizenGPT... and why it won't hallucinate
How AI is restoring lost human connections
How to detect and mitigate the danger of deepfake video content using a blockchain
What it means to be an ethical publisher of content in the age of AI