George Sivulka, hailed as a wunderkind by Peter Thiel, is the founder of Hebbia, a groundbreaking AI company revolutionizing financial research. Having worked at NASA as a teenager, he later earned a math degree from Stanford in just 2.5 years. George has secured $130M in funding for Hebbia at a $700M valuation, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Google Ventures, and Thiel himself. Hebbia’s AI platform, trusted by firms like Centerview Partners and Charlesbank, has driven a 15x revenue growth in 18 months by pioneering RAG techniques that ensure LLM outputs remain within company-sanctioned data.In this conversation, we discuss:How Hebbia is reshaping financial research with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).The leap from academia to entrepreneurship—how George Sivulka turned research into real-world impact.The expanding role of AI in high-stakes industries where precision is critical.The ethical challenges of AI and how transparency can make or break trust.Why AI agents will change knowledge work—but not in the way you might think.The future of AI-powered research and its impact on decision-making.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe Connect with Sivulka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivulka/ AI fun fact article: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-ai-sees-market-that-you-might-not On How AI-Powered Writing is reshaping Enterprise Content Creation: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/may-habib-ceo-of-writer-discusses-llms-and-the/id1476885647?i=1000628256870 

In this special compilation episode of AI and the Future of Work, we celebrate Data Privacy Day by revisiting powerful conversations with industry leaders tackling some of today’s biggest AI challenges. From deepfake detection to ethical AI, this episode highlights the critical role of privacy, trust, and security in the future of AI.Join us as we revisit insights from top experts in AI:🔹 Vijay Balasubramaniyan (CEO, Pindrop) – Listen to his full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/15742476 🔹 Ray Wang (Founder, Constellation Research) – Listen to his full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16144550  🔹 Dr. Zohar Bronfman (CEO, Pecan AI) – Listen to his full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16064087 🔹 Holger Mueller (VP, Constellation Research) – Listen to his full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16098992 ResourcesSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe Connect with Vijay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayab Connect with R "Ray" Wang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwang0/ Connect with Dr. Zohar Bronfman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zohar-bronfman/ Connect with Holger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holgermueller/  

Megh Gautam, the Chief Product Officer at Crunchbase, shares his extensive experience in product innovation from leading roles at Twilio and Dropbox. He discusses how Crunchbase uses AI to predict startup success while balancing data accuracy and ethical transparency. Key insights include the challenge of fostering skepticism in a world dominated by AI and the vital need for trust in technology. Megh also highlights the influence of mentorship on his career, underlining the importance of guiding emerging talents in the tech industry.

Josh Drean, Co-founder of the Work3 Institute and co-author of "Employment is Dead," shares his insights on the evolving job landscape. He discusses the challenges traditional work models face, highlighting a shift in expectations among younger generations. Drean emphasizes the need for decentralized collaboration and innovative compensation structures. He advocates for prioritizing employee experience and well-being as companies adapt to AI's growing influence in the workplace, urging a more human-centric approach to employment.

Marcus 'Bellringer' Bell, an award-winning music producer and the mind behind North America’s first AI artist, Ravyn Lyte, shares his fascinating journey blending AI and music. He reveals how AI tools have allowed him to produce over 15,000 songs in just six months. The discussion also pivots to AI's potential in reshaping creativity and mental health advocacy. Bell delves into confronting fears about AI in the entertainment industry, promoting a humanistic approach that emphasizes collaboration over competition.

Prakash Arunkundrum, COO of Logitech and architect of its AI strategy, shares insights on the convergence of AI and sustainability in product design. He discusses how Logitech is reducing environmental impacts while enhancing user experiences through AI-powered devices. Prakash reflects on the shift to hybrid work, leveraging AI to automate tasks and foster creativity. His leadership style combines data-driven strategies with a people-first approach, emphasizing accountability and innovation in a diverse corporate culture.

Dr. Brian Magerko is a professor of Digital Media at Georgia Tech, where he directs the Expressive Machinery Lab and the graduate studies program in Digital Media. With degrees in Cognitive Science from Carnegie Mellon and Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan, his research explores the intersection of human creativity and AI. Creator of EarSketch, a platform enabling music creation through code used by over a million users nationwide, Dr. Magerko’s work has earned over $20 million in federal grants and features in The New Yorker, USA Today, and NPR.In this conversation, we discuss:How Dr. Brian Magerko's work at the intersection of human creativity and AI is redefining educational tools and artistic expression.The creation and impact of EarSketch, a platform that teaches coding through music and has reached over a million users.The ethical considerations of AI-generated art and music, including intentionality and cultural impact.How improvisational cognition and embodied computing inform the future of human-computer interaction.The societal and educational implications of integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into learning environments.Exciting examples of innovative AI applications in music, dance, and public interactive installations.ResourcesSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Brian on LinkedInAI fun fact article  On entrepreneurship in emerging markets 

Punit Soni, CEO of Suki and former leader at Google and Flipkart, discusses the revolutionary role of AI in healthcare. He outlines his vision for decentralized healthcare powered by voice-based interactions, enhancing clinician efficiency. Soni emphasizes the shift from traditional data interfaces to ambient AI, making administrative tasks easier for healthcare providers. Transparency in AI technologies and the future of patient interactions also take center stage, promising a new era where clinicians focus more on patient care.

Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium and former founder of Coach.me, discusses the importance of human curation in the digital age. He explains how Medium revamped its recommendation system to prioritize thoughtful content over algorithms. The conversation explores the transition to a subscription-based model, highlighting its role in enhancing content quality. Stubblebine also critiques the ad-driven internet, arguing for a shift towards value-driven practices, and emphasizes the need for human wisdom in crafting impactful narratives.

Dr. Mike Schuster is the head of the AI Core team at Two Sigma, where he leads engineers and quantitative researchers in advancing AI technologies across the firm's investment strategies and internal efficiencies. With over 25 years of expertise in machine learning and deep learning, Mike has been at the forefront of AI trends in tech and finance. Prior to Two Sigma, he spent 12 years at Google, contributing to transformative projects like Google Translate as part of the Google Brain team. Dr. Schuster holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology in Japan and is recognized as a pioneer whose work has significantly shaped the AI landscape.In this conversation, we discuss:The challenges and importance of building collaborative teams for complex AI systems in finance.Key differences between developing AI technologies in tech companies like Google versus finance firms like Two Sigma.The evolution of neural networks and their transformative impact on applications like Google Translate.The ethical considerations and risks of using AI in finance compared to other industries.Insights into data quality challenges and strategies for addressing bias in financial modeling.Predictions for the future of AI, focusing on efficiency, data quality, and practical advancements over the next five years.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Mike SchusterAI fun fact articleEpisode on how AI is diagnosing and treating sleep disorders