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AI and the Future of Work

Latest episodes

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Sep 16, 2024 • 36min

Vijay Balasubramaniyan, Co-Founder of Pindrop, on The Journey to Raising over $200 Million to Detect Audio Deepfakes

Vijay is the co-founder and CEO of Pindrop, a leader in voice security technology. With a background in engineering and research roles at Google, Siemens, IBM Research, and Intel, Vijay invented phone printing technology in 2010 and launched Pindrop in 2011. Under his leadership, Pindrop has raised over $200 million from investors, including JC2 Ventures, led by by Cisco's John Chambers. Holding multiple patents in VoIP security and scalability, Vijay frequently speaks at major conferences such as RSA, Black Hat, and CCS. He earned his PhD in computer science from Georgia Tech.In this conversation, we discuss:The evolution of voice technology from landline telephony to modern voice systems.The challenges of educating people about voice security and deepfake threats in the early 2010s.How the rise of Alexa and other voice assistants transformed public perception of voice technology.The rapid development of voice cloning tools and their implications for security.The role of deepfakes in political interference, including high-profile cases President Biden.How companies like Pindrop are using AI to detect and combat voice-related deepfake attacks in real-time.ResourcesSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Vijay AI fun fact articleHow AI is reinventing networking with Cisco's Dr. JP Vasseur
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Sep 9, 2024 • 43min

William Osman On The Path To 500M+ YouTube views: From Engineering Experiments to Viral Videos

William Osman is a prominent tech creator and inventive mayhem conjurer on YouTube, with over 3 million followers and nearly 200 videos that have collectively amassed over half a billion views.As the mastermind behind Open Sauce, a major creator community event that drew over 20,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors, and 150 celebrity creators, William has significantly impacted the tech and creator landscape. His engaging content, known for its bold experiments and Francis Ford Coppola-like editing, includes fan favorites such as "How Many Parts Can You Take Off a Car?" and "Can a Rented Raccoon Simulate Fatherhood?" William is also the cohost of the Safety Third podcast, with over a hundred episodes. He holds a BS in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Cal State Northridge. We’re thrilled to have him on AI and the Future of Work to discuss his unique journey and insights.Topics in this episode --Exploring Early YouTube: In this conversation, we discuss the evolution of YouTube and content creation from its early days, reflecting on how the tools and community have changed over the years.From Engineering to Entertainment: We delve into the guest's journey from making simple, personal videos to integrating engineering with entertainment, and how this unique blend led to their success on YouTube.Challenges of Early Content Creation: The guest shares insights on the early challenges of making videos, including the limited tools available in 2008 and the lack of a robust creator community.The Role of Storytelling in Videos: We discuss the shift from focusing solely on technical aspects of video production to emphasizing storytelling, and how this transition impacted the guest’s content and audience engagement.The Impact of Open Sauce: The guest reflects on the vision behind Open Sauce, an event celebrating nerd culture and the maker community, and how it represents a sociological shift in connecting like-minded individuals.Creative Process Insights: We dive into the guest's creative process, exploring how they generate ideas, choose which projects to pursue, and how they use engineering problems to drive compelling narratives in their videos.ResourcesSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with WilliamAI fun fact articleAn episode you might like about extending life with AI
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Sep 2, 2024 • 32min

Pankaj Kedia, AI pioneer and VC @ 2468 Ventures, On The Fast Approaching Age of Abundance

Pankaj Kedia has been a trailblazer across laptop PC,  smartphone, and wearable products, having held leadership roles at Intel and Qualcomm over the last 3 decades. Now an active AI investor, advisor, mentor, and speaker, Pankaj founded 2468 Ventures in 2021 and has since made angel investments in such notable AI companies as Anthropic, Athena, Figure, Groq, and OpenAI. Recently appointed as the Chief AI Officer and board member at Biossmann, a Mexican healthcare solutions company, Pankaj brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the AI space. He holds engineering degrees from IIT Roorkee and the University of Michigan, along with an MBA from Wharton.In this conversation, we discuss:The journey of transitioning from early AI work in the 1980s to becoming a key player in the wearable revolution.Leadership lessons learned from working with iconic leaders like Andy Grove at Intel and Irwin Jacobs at Qualcomm.The evolution of wearable technology and its role in augmenting human capabilities through AI.The ethical implications and potential risks associated with the integration of AI in wearable devices.Insights into the mindset and qualities of successful AI entrepreneurs and the criteria for investing in disruptive technologies.Predictions about the future of work, the rise of AGI, and the shift towards an age of abundance where work becomes a choice rather than a necessity.ResourcesSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with PankajAI fun fact articleBabak Hodjat, co-inventor of Siri, on AI and the Future of Work
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Aug 26, 2024 • 33min

Josh Allan Dykstra, Founder of The Work Revolution, On Finding Work You'll Love

Josh Allan Dykstra is a polymath, TEDx speaker, and CEO of The Work Revolution, who has collaborated with giants like Amazon and Apple. He shares his journey from musician to workplace advocate, emphasizing the need for a 'work revolution' to enhance employee well-being. Josh discusses the importance of energy-based work systems and how conducting energy audits can improve productivity. He challenges fear-based organizational dynamics, advocating for a love-centered approach that fosters collaboration and healing in the workplace.
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Aug 19, 2024 • 40min

Nick Mehta, CEO of Gainsight, On Building A Human-First AI Culture

Nick Mehta, the CEO of Gainsight, transforms the customer success landscape. He explores how AI can enhance human interaction and improve job security. With insights into building a 'human-first AI' culture, he highlights the balance between technology and authenticity in the workplace. Nick delves into the evolving nature of leadership while addressing ethical considerations surrounding AI. Additionally, he shares his passion for Taylor Swift, adding a playful twist to the discussion, showcasing both his professional depth and personal flair.
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Aug 12, 2024 • 39min

Silvio Savarese, EVP Salesforce, From Ivory Tower to Corporate Labs: The Real Challenges of AI Development

Silvio Savarese is a pioneer and AI research lead with the AI research team at Salesforce, one of the largest and most influential enterprise software companies globally. Before joining Salesforce in 2021 as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist, Silvio spent nearly 11 years in academia at Stanford, where his research focused on robotics, machine learning, and language models. At Salesforce, his team has developed AI tools like CodeGen, which assists with coding using conversational AI, and Merlion, which enhances system availability by detecting potential failures through time series intelligence. Silvio's team is also working on conversational AI for personalized summaries. He is a strong advocate for practicing AI responsibly, contributing to Salesforce's advocacy on AI trust, safety, privacy, and security.In this conversation:Silvio's journey from academia to industry and the challenges he faced during this transition.We explore the differences between working in academia and leading an AI research team at Salesforce.Silvio shares insights on how his background in robotics informs his current work with AI for enterprise software.We delve into the ethical considerations and responsible practices in AI development at Salesforce.Silvio explains the three pillars of AI research at Salesforce: foundational research, product incubation, and product innovation.We examine the trade-offs between using large language models versus smaller models in AI applications, including their environmental impact and potential risks.ResourceSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Silvio AI fun fact articleAn episode you might like about extending life with AI
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Aug 5, 2024 • 49min

Armen Berjikly, CTO @ BetterUp, On Using AI to Unlock Human Potential

Armen Berjikly, a serial entrepreneur and CTO at BetterUp, discusses the pivotal role of AI in enhancing human potential. He shares insights from his Stanford research on the emotional interplay between technology and human connection. Armen delves into his companies, exploring how they improved employee experience. He emphasizes the importance of AI recognizing emotions to better support workplace dynamics and personal growth, advocating for a future where technology democratizes coaching and enhances well-being.
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Jul 29, 2024 • 38min

Thomas Otter, Venture Capitalist, On How One Good Decision Made Him The Accidental HR Tech Pioneer

Thomas Otter joined Acadian Ventures in March 2022 as a General Partner. Prior to Acadian, he advised companies such as Workday, Ultimate Software, Personio, and Unit 4, and collaborated with private equity and growth equity firms like Warburg Pincus, Scottish Equity Partners, PSG, and Goldman Sachs on M&A, strategy, negotiations, and diligence. He previously led the product management organization at SAP SuccessFactors, scaling it to over a billion dollars in annual recurring revenue, and served as a Research Vice President at Gartner Group, leading HR tech research. Thomas holds a Doctorate from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and the Strategy and Innovation Diploma from Oxford. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society. . A regular guest lecturer at various universities, Thomas grew up in South Africa and now resides in Heidelberg, Germany. He is also a collector of vinyl records and a lover of great music.In this conversation, we discuss:How a chance encounter led to a 30-year career in HR technology.The evolution of HR technology from the mainframe era to modern cloud-based systems.The intersection of ethics, compliance, and technology within HR.The strategic importance of HR in today's business landscape and its impact on the employee experience.The role of technology in automating administrative tasks to enhance employee satisfaction.Historical milestones in HR tech, including the first business application of a computer for payroll.ResourceConnect with Thomas Otter AI fun fact articleAn episode you might like about using AI to get ahead in your career 
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Jul 22, 2024 • 42min

Bernard Marr, Author & Futurist, On How to Use Generative AI to Get Ahead In Your Career

World-renowned futurist Bernard Marr discusses AI trends and his book 'Generative AI in Practice'. Topics include ethical considerations in AI, AI's role in business decisions, generative AI's impact on industries, and the importance of human skills in the age of AI.
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Jul 15, 2024 • 36min

Chris Dyer, Future of Work Expert, On 6 Surprising Ways AI Can Accelerate Your Career

Chris Dyer is a globally recognized company culture and future of work expert, delivering keynotes for over 15 years to audiences worldwide. As a CEO managing thousands, his companies consistently earn accolades as best places to work and have been recognized five times by Inc. Magazine as some of the fastest-growing companies. Chris is ranked as Inc. Magazine's number one leadership speaker on culture, has published three best-selling books, and is named number five on the leadership power list. He is also a top 40 change management guru, a top 50 global thought leader, and the host of a top 50 leadership podcast. Beyond his professional achievements, Chris is an avid hiker, musician, and world traveler.In this episode, we discuss:The concept of being an "accidental everything" and how curiosity and the willingness to say yes can lead to unexpected opportunities.We explore how Chris transitioned from speaking to writing, despite initial doubts and external skepticism.We delve into the power of a strong support system, including employees, mentors, and friends, in achieving success.We examine the varying perceptions employees have about AI in the workplace, from ignorance to apprehension to enthusiasm.We discuss the rapid pace of technological innovation and its impact on both employees and organizations.We highlight the importance of helping employees understand and adapt to technological advancements to enhance their value and mitigate job displacement risks.ResourceConnect with ChrisAI fun fact articleAn episode you might like about the future of audio engineering

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