In today’s episode, we welcome Manu Sharma and Brian Rieger from Labelbox, a private company which we believe is leading training data solution for machine learning. We have had many conversations on this show about artificial intelligence from a hardware and algorithm perspective, but data is just as important. All production AI systems are based on supervised learning, which requires large quantities of data to be labeled so that the algorithms can understand and compartmentalize it. In other words, data without labels can’t be used by most AI algorithms. While large internet companies like Google and Facebook have built custom tools in-house to help label and sort through their large troves of data, most enterprises have very few options. Labelbox aims to fill this gap by providing a scalable and easy-to-use tool to help companies convert their raw data into labeled data fit for machine learning algorithms. Today on the show, Manu and Brian get into the history of Labelbox, as well as the services it provides to its clients and the machine learning community. We talk about the tiers and iterations of Databox, its pricing structures, the various industries it supports, and what makes it stand out against its competition. We also cover some fascinating ground around human-in-the-loop systems, how a machine learning startup would train its AI and the difference between software 1.0 and 2.0. In our conversation, we also speak about Labelbox in relation to computer vision, drone technology, and labor ethics. Join us to get a taste of the many ways data and AI will continue to penetrate life and industry well into the foreseeable future.

We are joined by Bryan Catanzaro, Vice President of Applied Deep Learning Research at NVIDIA. In his early career he built some of the original deep learning libraries and worked at Baidu in the specific field of deep speech. In 2016 he returned to NVIDIA and has been there since, exploring the ever-evolving field of deep learning at one of the industry leaders. We discuss conversational AI and the newest advancements in the field, Bryan’s thoughts on NVIDIA’s competition and what the market looks like currently. Bryan also weighs in on how far we are from a more general form of artificial intelligence and how far we can get by just scaling today’s technologies. We also cover autonomous driving, related software, hardware and frameworks and the impact of cloud computing on the field. For this informative chat be sure to listen in to the For Your Innovation podcast!

Isn’t everyone talking about streaming wars? This may seem like a new phenomenon, but it all started in 2007 when Netflix introduced streaming for the first time. With Disney Plus and Apple TV gaining traction, we are exploring what the future of streaming might look like and how it could shape the media landscape. On this episode Nick Grous, analyst at ARK Invest, shares his broad perspective and insightful knowledge on the current streaming wars taking place across the globe. On day one of their launch in November 2019, Disney Plus received over 10 million subscribers from just a handful of countries. Nick explains how the growing competition, like Disney Plus and Apple TV, impacts Netflix – the market leader in the streaming space. We explore some of the history behind streaming and why it took other companies over 12 years to start competing with Netflix. Lastly, we discuss how companies are expanding their business models and products in order to win a piece of the pie. Take a listen to this episode if you want to know who ARK believes might be best positioned in these streaming wars.

We are joined by Ro Gupta, the CEO of Carmera to discuss his contribution to an autonomous future. Carmera is a private company that makes real time HD maps for autonomous driving. We talk about his own history and early interest in transportation before diving into the development of digital maps and the apps that have spearheaded this technology. Ro explains data collection, safety policies, and some of the main challenges today. He also describes differences between the US and international markets, notably China. We discuss different solutions, how to share data across platforms, and how Carmera aims to grow in the future.

On this episode of FYI we welcome Eric Vishria, General Partner at Benchmark. Benchmark is a one-of-a-kind venture capital firm based in San Francisco, opting to operate with a small team of just 5 to 7 general partners and no junior partners or other team members. They have helped to bring to market iconic companies such as Twitter, SnapChat, DropBox and Uber! In our conversation, we talk about why he believes SaaS is larger than ever before. Eric makes a strong argument for low barriers to adoption over low barriers to entry. We talk about Benchmark’s recent investments in software and machine learning and get some insight into their work with Cerebras as its first investor! As a venture capital company that does not do a lot of PR, it is all the more exciting to have Eric as our guest to get a peek inside a true industry leader and trendsetter.

On this FYI episode, we are joined by Sean George, CEO and co-founder of Invitae one of the innovative frontrunners in the medical genetic testing space. (This episode was recorded: Sep. 10, 2019) Invitae is driven by the provision of affordable genetic testing, clinical-grade accuracy, and transparent reporting practices. In asking different questions than anyone else in the space, Invitae is spearheading a paradigm shift in the diagnostics industry.1 For them, finding scalable solutions, where anyone can access information about medical risks they face and then tailor solutions accordingly, is an ideal outcome. Sean also talks about the declining costs of DNA sequencing and the implications it has for the future of the medical genetics testing industry along with the host of other industries it will benefit. He also touches on how genetic testing can continue to change cancer treatment to ensure that all patients get comprehensive, tailored treatments that deal with the specificities of their case. While being an innovator in this space has provided altruistic benefits for many people outside of the company, finding investors has at times proved to be challenging for Invitae. Sean then gets into what the current investment landscape for biotech companies looks like as well as his suggestions for raising capital moving forward. For all this and more, join us today!

Today’s episode is part two of the discussion with Professor Yaakov Nahmias, the Israeli biomedical engineer and innovator. We discuss his startup, Future Meat Technologies, a company funded by Tyson Foods, which is poised to develop the next generation of cultured meat. Initially when someone proposed the idea of cultured meat to him, Yaakov thought it would be too expensive. Drawing inspiration from the human body’s filtration and purification system, Future Meat Technologies is working on a bioreactor which removes the growth inhibiting ammonia from the cell growth process. With this breakthrough development, the company has a plan to drastically drive down the cost of cultured meat production and improve efficiency to the point where it could surpass the output of the conventional meat industry. This may not only feed more people, but also allow consumers to make more conscious decisions. Yaakov recognizes that it is a niche market and in order to widen the customer base it is important to make the product as close to conventional meat as possible.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Ric Edelman, the founder and chairman of Edelman Financial Engines and author of The Truth About Your Future. We also have our very own Cathie Wood join us for the conversation as we look at the current state of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, a decade after they emerged into the public imagination. We hear from Ric about his early theoretical and then practical interactions with bitcoin, his ongoing belief in the platform, its limitations and what its future may look like. Cathie also weighs in on ARK’s initial relationship with bitcoin and how cryptocurrencies informed the formation of the company. We discuss bitcoin’s strengths and weaknesses, who can most benefit from its unique characteristics at present and the advantages that would emerge with the involvement of the SEC. Tune in to hear this engaging discussion on what we believe to be one of the decade’s defining technologies!

On the podcast today, we are joined by Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor in Chief of Forbes Media Group. Together with ARK CEO and CIO Cathie Wood and ARK analyst James Wang, we have a fascinating chat with Steve on the market, the modern media landscape, and the trustworthiness of cryptocurrencies. The podcast starts off looking at the current economic climate, doom and gloom predictions, and why Steve has come out publicly with a relatively optimistic outlook. From there we naturally move into taxation, the market, and all the political issues connected to these topics. Steve gives us his views on the path of Forbes Media Group through the internet age. We hear about the philosophy that guided the company from its previous iteration as a purely print publication, into the online powerhouse we see today. We even broaden our conversation into a comparison of today’s popular music landscape. Lastly, we focus on cryptocurrencies, the concept of trustworthiness of Bitcoin, and some of Steve’s current and upcoming projects. Be sure not to miss this great episode!

In this episode of the FYI—For Your Innovation podcast, we welcome Professor Yaakov Nahmias from the Hebrew University. Yaakov is an Israeli bioengineer and an award-winning, industry-leading expert in his fields, who has worked in 3D printing and cellular research for the majority of his career. This two-part conversation will cover his work at Tissue Dynamics in the field of drug discovery and the production of cost-effective cultured meat at Future Meat Technologies. In this first part, we explore how Professor Nahmias is helping to advance medical research, drug discovery, and production of new medicines. We hear about his ideas that led to the founding of his company, Tissue Dynamics, and some of the problems that the company aims to fix. Professor Nahmias does a great job of explaining the complex issues of drug discovery. We discuss technological advancements, such as smart organ-on-chip technology, that could allow us to reduce the time it takes to find new drugs. For this and more, tune in!