Better Innovation

Join us as we kick off season 7 of Better Innovation and our mini-series on Responsible AI with guests Benjamin Alarie and Abdi Aidid, co-authors of their new book ‘The Legal Singularity: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Law Radically Better.’ Ben is a professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and is the co-founder and CEO of Blue J. Abdi teaches in the areas of civil procedure, torts, and law & technology, also at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Jeff, Abdi and Ben explore the concept of “The Legal Singularity,” a future state where technology facilitates the functional "completeness" of the law. The conversation spans the implications of the law’s textual nature, AI’s impact on the professional responsibilities within the practice of law, and the potential for AI to radically improve our legal processes, institutions, and society.

On today’s Better Innovation episode with Martin Chorzempa, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Jeff explores a significant moment in the annals of innovation history: China’s cashless revolution. In a discussion about his recently published book, The Cashless Revolution: China's Reinvention of Money, named one of the best economics books of 2022 by the Financial Times, Martin provides an extraordinary look at China’s innovation in finance and technology. He and Jeff delve into the rise of super-apps, the shifting views in China about how to best regulate these fintech solutions, and how other countries can learn from China's leading transformation.

For several decades, data protection has captured our full attention, but have we failed to protect people in its pursuit? Live from our Better Innovation Boston studio, EY’s Jeff Saviano sits down with Elizabeth Renieris, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University, who explores this topic in her new book, Beyond Data: Reclaiming Human Rights at the Dawn of the Metaverse. Elizabeth’s captivating book calls for an entirely different data framework centered on the protection of human rights. A leading authority on digital identity, cross-border data protection / privacy laws, and innovative technologies such as blockchain and AI, Elizabeth argues that laws focused on data protection, data privacy, data security and data ownership have unintentionally failed to protect core human values, including personal privacy. Jeff probes this topic with Elizabeth, while also addressing technology governance, common data misconceptions, and her proposition for a new human rights-based approach to data.

What compels a society so dependent on technology to be so innovation-averse? And what is the role of the government in promoting innovation? Live from our remote studio in Washington D.C., EY’s Jeff Saviano reunites with Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy for Circle, for another conversation on Better Innovation to explore these questions which have taken on a greater sense of urgency on the global stage. Regular listeners to the show know Dante well, as this is his 3rd appearance! A seasoned expert who has been at the very center of innovation across fintech, public policy, social impact, and global risk, Dante sheds light on an ‘anti-innovation streak’ that exists within our society, the role of government in regulating and promoting innovation, and the importance of public-private collaboration to advance innovation ‘moonshots.’

Decentralized systems are evolving at a dizzying pace. How are these systems solving real-world problems today? What is a DAO and how may this new form of business organization disrupt the status quo? How can we ensure new Web3 regulatory frameworks protect citizens without stifling innovation? On this latest episode of EY Better Innovation, Jeff Saviano explores these questions with Kevin Werbach, professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. As former Counsel for New Technology Policy at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and a frequent author on emerging technologies, Kevin is deeply engaged in matters of Web3 policies and governance. He is a pioneer in emerging fields such as gamification (applying digital game design principles to business), algorithmic accountability, and blockchain. Kevin has published four books, including The Blockchain and the New Architecture of Trust, For the Win: The Power of Gamification and Game Thinking in Business, Education, Government, and Social Impact, and After the Digital Tornado: Networks, Algorithms, Humanity. His work and scholarship are shaping the future of technology systems, as they’re poised to better address important societal and business problems.

Today’s guest exemplifies what it truly means to ethically harness data and technology to transform the most vulnerable nations in the world. Yolanda Jinxin Ma, Head of Digital Policy and Global Partnerships at the United Nations Development Programme, joins Jeff on today’s show to address digital transformation in the UN’s international development.  Yolanda leads the development and implementation of the UNDP’s digital strategy. She advises on multi-disciplinary initiatives in numerous countries. This includes public sector digital transformation, innovative financing for sustainable development, digital public goods proliferation, and cross-sector public-private partnerships. Yolanda has such a unique perspective on today’s digital, social, political, and economic landscape. Listen-in as Jeff and Yolanda explore what it means to transform societies in an era of digital division and rapid technological change, and how nations can overcome the challenges that accompany such important work. 

Better Innovation listeners who have been with us for a few years may feel a sense of déjà vu with this episode. Today’s guest, Alex Osterwalder - inventor of the Business Model Canvas, founder & CEO of Strategyzer, and one of the world’s most influential strategy and innovation experts - appeared on the show back in November 2018 to speak with Jeff in front of a live audience. Alex and Jeff discussed how organizations can thrive with renewed attention to business modeling.   2018 now feels like a lifetime ago . . . Seeking updated insights from Alex, Jeff hosts a discussion on a new culture of innovation that has emerged and how organizations can reframe their approach to innovation in the context of today’s volatile global landscape. Listen-in as Jeff and Alex catch-up and address how business challenges should be converted to innovation challenges to achieve new breakthroughs.

On this episode of EY Better Innovation, Yoav Amiel, Chief Information Officer at RXO, the recent spin-off of XPO Logistics, joins Jeff to explore how novel tech and data solutions are fueling innovation in freight transportation - an industry ripe for radical disruption.  The culmination of Yoav’s experiences at RXO and formerly, XPO, Amazon, and Microsoft, give him a unique perspective on the global challenges facing the transportation and logistics sector. Tune-in to learn about the state of the industry, and how Yoav is driving what some might call one of the most significant disruptions the sector has ever seen.

How can leaders derive maximum value from ecosystems and their associated business models? In this episode of Better Innovation, Jeff Saviano sits down with Greg Sarafin, Global Managing Partner - EY Alliance Ecosystem. Greg oversees the EY strategy, enablement, and value creation derived from alliances and other ecosystem relationships -- which means he holds a unique perspective on the role that creative business models play in scaling innovation strategies. Tune in for best practices on unlocking the potential of ecosystems, and the creative business models leveraging these important relationships.   You can find Greg’s article on the seven real-world ecosystem business models here: https://www.ey.com/en_lu/alliances/seven-business-models-for-creating-ecosystem-value 

What comes to mind when you think of innovation? Maybe it’s the latest development in artificial intelligence, or what’s on the horizon for Web3. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Bruce Jackson, Associate General Counsel at Microsoft, to explore a type of innovation frequently overlooked . . . self-innovation, often in response to life’s greatest challenges.  Bruce is the author of Never Far from Home, his personal memoirs recounting an inspiring life story, including his rise from childhood poverty in pre-gentrified New York City to a stellar career at the very top of the tech and music industries. Bruce opens up to Jeff about his unfathomable life hardships, requiring extraordinary grit, perseverance, and an ability to reinvent oneself, repeatedly, to survive - and ultimately, thrive.  For more on Bruce’s memoirs, Never Far from Home: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Never-Far-from-Home/Bruce-Jackson/9781982191153