Shift AI Podcast

Chris Willis, the Chief Design Officer at Domo, discusses his diverse career across media, design, and technology. He emphasizes the need for human-centered design in AI and data analytics, alongside the critical role of digital dexterity in today’s digital landscape. The conversation touches on the balance between using AI tools for collaboration and preserving human creativity. Chris also reflects on mentorship's impact on his career and envisions the future of work as one driven by continuous learning and adaptation.

CEO and founder of Trelliswork, Mike Nash, discusses managing teams in the tech landscape with AI integration. Topics include operational challenges, mentorship, intentional progress, and rethinking work strategies in the age of AI.

Venture capital managing directors Yuval Neeman and Amy McCullough from Trilogy Equity Partners discuss Gen AI's impact on the workforce, Trilogy's investment thesis, and portfolio companies like Alongside and Bright Canary. They also explore qualities VC firms seek in founders and the broader societal implications of Gen AI.

Rebecca Finaly, CEO of Partnership on AI, delves into AI's effects on jobs, stressing multi-stakeholder collaborations, responsible AI, and workforce planning. She highlights AI's opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks and education. The discussion covers balancing tech adoption with human values, employer responsibilities in the AI age, and the potential of AI to address global issues.

Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire, offers keen insights into AI's impact on media and marketing, while Adam Tratt, a marketing consultant, emphasizes the ethical implications of AI in these fields. They discuss the swift advancements in AI technologies, exploring tools that enhance productivity and efficiency. The conversation also touches on the competitive challenges startups face against giants like Google and Microsoft. Plus, they share humorous stories from their first jobs, blending nostalgia with their forward-thinking views on AI.

Monica Ares is the Executive Director of Innovation, Digital Education, and Analytics at Imperial College London Business School Idea Lab, bringing her experience from tech giants like Amazon and Meta. She discusses the integration of AI and immersive technologies in education, emphasizing their role in creating personalized learning experiences. Monica also highlights how virtual reality can enhance empathy and social interactions among students. With a vision for seamless lifelong learning, she envisions an educational landscape enriched by intelligent technology.

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, host Boaz welcomes Jim Loter, the Interim CTO of the City of Seattle, to discuss the city's approach to AI policy, its impacts on public service, and the future of technology in the government sector. Jim shares his background and experiences in technology and highlights the importance of responsible and factual use of AI technology and the need for human involvement in decision-making. The episode also covers the formation of AI guidelines in Seattle, engaging with various stakeholders to understand AI risks and possibilities, and the mayor's role in shaping the city's stance on AI. 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:14 Early Work on AI Guidelines 10:14 City of Seattle's Approach to Technology 11:01 Development of AI Policy 21:57 Excitement about Technology 26:23 Influence of Mentors 29:14 Future of Work and Technology Connect with Jim Loter ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

Pablo Castro, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft, shares his journey from Argentina to shaping Azure AI. He highlights the potential of large language models and the importance of grounding AI to tackle hallucination issues. Pablo emphasizes Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI, focusing on security and data management. He reflects on the invaluable role of mentors in his career and presents an optimistic vision for the future of work, where human creativity and AI collaboration drive progress.

Yifan Zhang's journey from a Harvard graduate to a serial entrepreneur and now the Managing Director at AI2 Incubator exemplifies her evolution within the tech startup ecosystem. Immigrating from China, she first ventured into the startup world by founding GymPact, a fitness app, followed by Loftium, an innovative home ownership model. Zhang's transition to investor at AI2 Incubator marks a new chapter where she leverages her experience to mentor early-stage AI startups with a focus on nurturing AI solutions that promise both global impact and local community innovation. ## Summary of topics covered: 00:00 Yifan Zhang's Early Background 08:18 AI2 Incubator and its Approach 12:22. Company Building in the AI Space 15:27. AI2 Incubator and Seattle's Ecosystem 18:56. Yifan Zhang's Community Work in Seattle 21:22. Seattle's Potential as an AI Hotbed 24:58. Mentors 28:51. The Future of Work is Strategic ## Connect with Yifan Zhang ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Email: yifan@ai2incubator.com Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy interviews Varun Puri, the founder and CEO of Yoodli, who shares his journey from working at Google to starting his own AI startup Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered speech coaching tool that helps individuals improve their communication skills. Puri discusses the importance of effective communication and how Yoodli can be used as a personalized coach. He also highlights the positive response of Yoodli by users and organizations and shares his thoughts on the role of AI in the future of work. Summary of topics covered: 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:31 From Google to Starting Yoodli 03:41 The Idea behind Yoodli 06:40 The Importance of Communication Skills 08:41 Using Yoodli as a Personalized Coach 09:49 Response and Adoption of Yoodli 16:01 The Future of AI Startups 23:24 Two Words to Describe the Future of Work 25:10 Closing Remarks and Contact Information Connect with Varun Puri ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠ Connect with our Sponsor CIBC CIBC Innovation Podcast