AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics

Scott Wharton is a visionary entrepreneur and CEO making waves in the solar industry as the leader of Tandem PV, where he’s developing solar cells that are about 30% more efficient than current market options. Previously, he spent eight years at Logitech as a general manager, revolutionizing how businesses use consumer tech for productivity and collaboration. Before that, he was the CEO of Vidtel, which was acquired by Fidelity Investments in 2013. A bold thinker and risk-taker, Scott is known for his leadership and innovation across industries. He holds an MBA from Yale and a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University.In this conversation, we discuss:How solar energy has become the cheapest and most scalable power source —and why most people haven’t caught up to this reality.The breakthrough potential of perovskite solar cells and why they’re set to replace silicon as the industry standard.Why the U.S. must invest in solar manufacturing – and how bringing production back from China strengthens energy security.The evolving synergy between solar and battery storage —how new advancements are making 24/7 renewable power a reality.Common myths about solar’s limitations and why concerns about cost, reliability, and land use no longer hold up.Scott’s journey from leading video conferencing at Logitech to revolutionizing the solar industry – and what motivated him to take on this challenge.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter:  https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe Connect with Scott Wharton on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwharton/AI fun fact article: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/23/data-centers-powering-ai-could-use-more-electricity-than-entire-cities.html On how AI can be used to provide fact-based impartial answers to scientific questions: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/11574063 

Mona Sabet is the co-author of Sail to Scale: Steering Startups Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit and currently serves as SVP, Strategy, Projects, and Operations at GCG. With a track record of driving growth and strategic transformations, she has held executive roles at VulcanForms, UserTesting, and Cadence Design Systems. At UserTesting, she played a pivotal role in securing $100M in funding, leading acquisitions, taking the company public, and negotiating its $1.3B sale to Thoma Bravo. Beyond her corporate leadership, Mona is a passionate advocate for women in tech, law, and policy, having co-founded ChIPsNetwork.org and leading HiPower, a community dedicated to empowering executive women shaping the future of technology.In this conversation, we discuss:The critical mistakes startups make at different growth stages—Mona shares insights from Sail to Scale on why companies struggle to scale and how to avoid common pitfalls.How founders should "fire themselves" to scale effectively—Why transitioning from founder to CEO requires a mindset shift, and the biggest mistakes leaders make in this process.The AI bubble: hype vs. reality—Mona explains why overfunding in AI-first companies mirrors past tech bubbles and what it means for the future of the industry.Why acquisitions should be a long-term strategy, not a last-minute decision—The importance of planning exits early and why companies that wait too long often fail to sell at the right valuation.The evolving landscape of M&A and IPOs—How companies can differentiate themselves in a crowded market of late-stage startups waiting for an exit.The unseen biases keeping women out of leadership—Mona’s perspective on why brand bias impacts diversity in tech and what leaders can do to create real change.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Mona on LinkedIn AI fun fact articleOn How to how AI is changing the entertainment industry 

Coinciding with International Women’s Day this week, this special episode of AI and the Future of Work highlights key conversations with women leading the way in AI ethics, governance, and accountability.In this curated compilation, we feature four remarkable experts working to create a more equitable, trustworthy, and responsible AI future:🔹 Navrina Singh (Founder & CEO, Credo AI) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/14341487 🔹 Meredith Broussard (Author, Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/12284213 🔹 Juliette Powell (Co-Author, The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology) – Listen to the full conversation here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/14435648 🔹 Merve Hickok (Founder, AIethicist.org) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/11801221 Bias, lack of transparency, and ethical concerns in AI are some of the most urgent issues of our time. These leaders are shaping the policies and frameworks needed to ensure AI serves everyone—fairly and equitably.ResourcesSubscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe Data Privacy Day Special Episode: AI, Deepfakes & The Future of Trust: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16554098 

Brandeis Marshall, CEO of DataedX Group and a former computer science professor, dives deep into the ethics of AI and data usage. She argues that AI companies should be regulated like scientific entities to prevent bias and ensure ethical decision-making. Brandeis discusses the challenges businesses face in AI adoption and shares her vision for patient-owned medical records to enhance healthcare access. She emphasizes AI as a supportive tool, especially for neurodivergent individuals, and the necessity of promoting inclusivity in data practices.

Dave Kellogg is a seasoned venture capitalist, serial tech executive, and one of the most respected voices in SaaS metrics. As an Entrepreneur in Residence at Balderton Capital, he brings decades of experience leading companies like Host Analytics, Salesforce, MarkLogic, and Business Objects (acquired by SAP). A sought-after speaker, Dave’s SaaStr talks consistently rank among the most watched, and he’s known for his bold predictions and sharp analysis of industry trends. He is also an advisor, director, blogger, and podcaster, sharing insights that shape the future of SaaS and enterprise software. In this conversation, we discuss:Dave Kellogg’s bold predictions for 2025 and how he scored himself on last year’s forecasts, from AI’s continued hype cycle to the rise of PR as the new SEO.Why venture capital is evolving, with AI-first companies reshaping funding strategies and a widening gap between US and European investment trends.The future of search—why traditional SEO may be dying and how businesses must adapt to AI-driven content discovery.The unlikely revival of branding—how companies are rediscovering brand differentiation in a "sea of sameness" where SaaS products look increasingly alike.AI’s impact on SaaS metrics and go-to-market strategies—can AI-driven sales and marketing tools help companies achieve the Rule of 40?The future of LinkedIn and social media in business—Dave’s concerns about LinkedIn’s engagement-driven model and why it might be entering the "social media death cycle."Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Dave Kellogg on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How AI is Making Networks Smart 

SC Moatti, founder of Mighty Capital and Products That Count, is one of the most dynamic venture capitalists and product leaders in Silicon Valley. As an early investor in PeopleReign, SC combines her investment expertise with a passion for advancing product leadership globally. She is the author of the award-winning book Mobilize and a sought-after keynote speaker and lecturer at Columbia and Stanford business schools. Before her venture capital career, SC was an instrumental product leader in the early days of mobile, driving innovation at companies like Electronic Arts, Nokia Labs, and Facebook.In this conversation, we discuss:SC Moatti’s journey from studying electrical engineering in Paris to becoming a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.Why founding Mighty Capital was the hardest challenge SC has faced and how applying product thinking helped her reshape the venture capital landscape.The unique due diligence process at Mighty Capital, focusing on high-performing teams, ambitious traction, and fair, long-term partnerships.How Products That Count grew from a small community into a global network of over half a million product leaders and its influence on the industry.The evolving role of product managers in an AI-first world and how professionals can adapt to stay ahead in this rapidly changing environment.The ethical responsibilities of product leaders, from managing unintended consequences of AI to maintaining trust and transparency in product development.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with SC Moatti on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How Disruptive Leaders Drive Innovation Across Industries in the Era of AI

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.