Bold Names

Tim Wu, a legal scholar and key architect of Biden's antitrust policy, dives into the monopolistic tendencies of Big Tech. He argues that platforms like Apple and Amazon are extracting value from users, turning human creativity into a commodity. Wu critiques the historical and current power dynamics at play, emphasizing the need for regulation to restore competition. He also sees AI as a crucial battleground for innovation, advocating for policies that foster challengers to prevent stagnation and encourage a thriving tech economy.

Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova, discusses the booming electricity demand driven by AI and data centers. He highlights the pivotal role of gas turbines in meeting variable energy needs and explains how small modular nuclear reactors could contribute to future energy production. Strazik also explores the extensive investments in manufacturing and R&D necessary to scale up, and outlines the challenges posed by permitting and infrastructure limitations. His insights paint a picture of a transformative energy landscape brimming with opportunities.

Sachin Kansal, Uber's Chief Product Officer, shares insights on the future of driverless cars. He discusses Uber's shift to a hybrid strategy, partnering with various autonomous vehicle companies. Sachin recounts his first robotaxi ride, emphasizing the blend of technology and human drivers. He explains rider motivations for choosing autonomous rides and how the app determines who drives—human or AV. The conversation touches on maximizing vehicle efficiency and the potential reduction of car ownership in a world dominated by shared, electric, autonomous transport.

Join Rajat Taneja, President of Technology at Visa, as he dives into the company's ambitious future with digital currencies and AI. Taneja explains how VisaNet manages massive transactions and transitions into stablecoins while maintaining security and compliance. He reveals insights on how AI will personalize commerce, making shopping seamless with agentic agents. The conversation explores Visa's potential evolution into a trusted platform at the intersection of financial technology and consumer experience.

Carl Pei, the founder and CEO of Nothing, shares his journey from a tech-obsessed kid in Sweden to leading a $1.3 billion startup aiming to disrupt giants like Apple and Samsung. He discusses his mission to redefine consumer tech with a focus on design and transparency. Pei also reveals how AI will shape their products, emphasizing the creation of Essential Apps and a personalized operating system. He highlights the importance of targeting niche markets and how Nothing's agility allows it to carve out a unique space in the competitive landscape.

Martin Casado, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and an expert in AI infrastructure, discusses the burgeoning AI investment landscape. He believes this boom is fundamentally different from the dot-com crash due to stronger balance sheets and varied business models. Casado highlights the massive investments in data centers and the unique opportunities emerging from AI startups. He also notes how current economic pressures may temper public CEO expectations while still fostering innovations that could transform the industry.

In this engaging discussion, Liz Reid, a seasoned Google executive overseeing Search, shares her insights on the transformative impact of AI on information retrieval. She explores how AI alters search capabilities and how Google plans to blend conversational AI with human content. Reid addresses user trust issues and the company's strategies to maintain ad revenue amid evolving technology. She also emphasizes the importance of high-quality content in combating the 'dead internet' theory and highlights the potential for niche creators to thrive in this new landscape.

Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and director of the Hoover Institution, shares insights on geopolitical tensions and the tech race with China. She emphasizes the urgent need for the U.S. to lead in AI and warns about the risks posed by AGI. Rice argues that businesses must integrate foreign policy with corporate strategy and adapt to ongoing uncertainties. She calls for innovation across sectors, the importance of democratic oversight, and strengthening global alliances to stay competitive.

Jeff Cardenas, Co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, shares his vision of humanoid robots as our future caregivers, inspired by his aging grandfathers. He outlines a three-stage roadmap for robot deployment, from industries to homes by 2035. Cardenas emphasizes the importance of owning actuators for enhanced robot dexterity and discusses Apptronik's collaborations with Google and DeepMind AI. He also explains how robots can become affordable, costing under $50,000, and argues that robotics will revolutionize productivity and national security in the U.S.

Dan Wang, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of Breakneck, delves into the contrasting dynamics between the U.S. and China. He introduces the idea of China as an 'engineering state' that rapidly builds infrastructure, while the U.S. is depicted as a 'lawyerly society' bogged down by regulations. The discussion highlights China's manufacturing strengths, including the successes of Shenzhen and high-speed rail, alongside America's declining manufacturing capabilities. Wang also explores the implications of these frameworks for future technological and geopolitical positioning.