Brave New World -- hosted by Vasant Dhar

Trying to build artificial intelligence can teach us so much about intelligence itself. AI pioneer Yann LeCun, a winner of the Turing Award, joins Vasant Dhar in episode 7 of Brave New World to discuss how the field of AI has evolved and where it is heading. Points of discussion:  How machines that perceive the world have turbocharged AI. How one of the biggest challenges in deep learning is common sense. The interface between industry and the academy. And how consciousness may not be a superpower but a reflection of our limitations. Useful resources: 1. Yann LeCun's homepage. 2. Yann LeCun's papers.  3. Language and Learning: The Debate between Jean Piaget and Noam Chomsky -- Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini (editor). 4. Perceptrons: An Introduction to Computational Geometry -- Marvin Minsky & Seymour Papert. 5. Her -- Spike Jonze.

How should the Biden administration treat China? The same way the Trump administration did, Peter Berkowitz tells Vasant Dhar in episode 6 of Brave New World. The USA, argues Berkowitz, must not lose sight of its core values as a great democracy. Useful resources: 1. The Elements of the China Challenge -- The Policy Planning Staff, Office of the Secretary of State. 2. Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights. 3. The Hundred-Year Marathon: China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower -- Michael Pillsbury.

We live in a different world than we did 30 years ago. How can law and education adapt to the disruptions of technology and politics? John Sexton joins Vasant Dhar in episode 5 of Brave New World to share his insights as an educator who tried to forge a way ahead. Useful resources: 1. Standing for Reason: The University in a Dogmatic Age -- John Sexton. 2. Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game -- John Sexton.

Despite amazing scientific advances, why is our healthcare system failing us today? It is rife with mistakes and lacks care. Can artificial intelligence aid the human touch in healthcare? Eric Topol joins Vasant Dhar in episode 4 of Brave New World to discuss how doctors and machines can come together to improve our lives and move us towards a world of individualized medicine. Useful resources: Deep Medicine by Eric Topol, as well as his other books.

Can social media platforms change our society? Sinan Aral joins Vasant Dhar in episode 3 of Brave New World to share his concerns. Useful resources: The Hype Machine by Sinan Aral, as well as Sinan's website, videos and research.

Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU Stern and author of 'Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity,' dives deep into the myth of American mobility. He advocates for universities to focus on uplifting the 'unremarkables' rather than just elite students. The discussion highlights the decline of community values, the urgent need for equitable education, and the flaws in current university admissions practices. Galloway also offers career advice tailored for the post-pandemic job market, emphasizing skill certification and perseverance.

In the Internet era, war is about tech. Technology platforms are the new power players of our times, alongside the state. Arun Sundararajan joins Vasant Dhar to discuss how the Internet is shaping the power dynamic between individuals, platforms and the state, the choices that confront us and their consequences. They discuss the US-China war, who is winning, and what it all means for us. Useful resources: 1. The Sharing Economy: The End of Employment and the Rise of Crowd-Based Capitalism -- Arun Sundararajan. 2. 3 Ways to Increase Social Media Platforms' Transparency -- Vasant Dhar. 3. Who Controls Your Data? -- Vasant Dhar. 4. Platforms and Ecosystems: Enabling the Digital Economy -- Michael G. Jacobides, Arun Sundararajan & Marshall Van Alstyne. For more, do visit the Brave New World website.

The role of tech in our lives has accelerated in the post-COVID era, creating a ‘virtual’ existence with low physical human contact. It has transformed how we work, govern, stay healthy, worship, invest, entertain, and much more. In this preview episode, Vasant Dhar -- a longtime AI researcher and data scientist -- tells us about the forthcoming mind-opening conversations with leading experts will discuss the world that our future selves will inhabit. Upcoming guests include: Scott Galloway: Author, entrepreneur and visionary, Professor NYU. Sinan Aral: Professor MIT, author of The Hype Machine. Yann Lecun: Turing award winner 2019, Chief Scientist, Facebook, Professor NYU. Richard Thaler: Nobel Laureate in Economics 2017, Professor University of Chicago. John Sexton: 15th President of NYU (2002-2015), Professor of law, NYU. Eric Topol: Professor of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research. Nandan Nilekani: needs no introduction. Welcome to Brave New World!