AI and I

Awais Aftab, a clinical assistant professor and editor at Conversations in Critical Psychiatry, shares his insights on the challenges within contemporary psychiatry. He discusses the complexities of diagnosing OCD, revealing how rigid categories often fall short. Awais highlights scientific pluralism, advocating for diverse theoretical perspectives in understanding mental health. Delving into AI's potential, he explores how it can enhance diagnosis and treatment, promising a more nuanced approach to human psychology.

Thomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub, dives into the competitive landscape of AI coding tools, highlighting GitHub Copilot's impressive 15 million users. He discusses whether this user base is an advantage or a barrier in the AI coding arms race. Dohmke reveals insights on the launch of a new autonomous coding agent intended to enhance developer efficiency. He also addresses the challenges of balancing support for both AI-native developers and traditional users while predicting the future of software development in an AI-driven world.

Kevin Scott, Microsoft CTO with 41 years of programming experience, shares his insights on the future of AI agents and software engineering. He discusses the critical role of Model Context Protocol (MCP), likening it to HTTP for agents, and emphasizes the need for a secure yet open ecosystem for innovation. Scott highlights the importance of equipping agents with tools and real-time data to enhance their functionality. He also advocates for proactive interactions with AI to tackle complex tasks, blending security with creativity in AI development.

Alexander Embiricos, a product staff member at OpenAI, discusses the revolutionary Codex, an autonomous coding agent that can build features and fix bugs. He explains Codex’s user-friendly interface, designed for senior developers to streamline task delegation effectively. The conversation delves into OpenAI’s vision for a unified assistant that enhances programming, encourages an abundance mindset for managing tasks, and suggests a shift in developer roles towards more creative and strategic interactions with AI.

Will England, CEO and managing partner of Walleye Capital, a $10B hedge fund, dives deep into integrating AI into finance. He shares his bold move to make AI an essential part of operations, treating it like email. With 75% of his team using ChatGPT daily, he highlights how AI drives decision-making and journaling. Will discusses balancing AI efficiency with human critical thinking in writing, and the innovative 'data lake' concept for smarter organizational decisions, all while emphasizing the responsibility that comes with leveraging AI.

Join Nadia Asparouhova, a writer and researcher of technology and culture, as she shares her transformative journey through Jhana meditation. She details how this practice allowed her to silence her inner voice, challenging the idea that self-talk defines humanity. Nadia explores the evolving concept of self, informed by cultural changes, and discusses the complex relationship between humans and AI, pondering how we might be more like AI than we think. Her insights delve into emotion regulation, profound joy, and even ‘anti-memes’ shaping societal progress.

Sarah Tavel, a venture partner at Benchmark and former product manager at Pinterest, discusses the need for a social layer in AI tools like ChatGPT. She believes the next wave of consumer AI will harness social interactions to enhance user experiences. Drawing from her Pinterest experience, she emphasizes that product-driven founders will help bridge this gap. Tavel also shares her insights on identifying passionate founders and the importance of community in building successful AI products.

Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick at Wired and author of The Inevitable, shares his profound insights on predicting the future shaped by technology. He believes understanding history is crucial for grasping what lies ahead and emphasizes the balance between exploration and storytelling. The conversation dives into creativity fueled by AI, including a fascinating scenario where historical figures collaborate. Kelly also reflects on past misconceptions in tech predictions, revealing the unpredictability of innovations like virtual reality and blockchain.

Join Quinten Farmer, CEO of Portola and creator of Tolan, an AI alien character on track to generate $4M in revenue this year, and Eliot Peper, the head of story and a best-selling sci-fi author. They dive into the secrets behind building AI personalities that users love, using light-touch personality quizzes to craft relatable companions. The duo discusses treating AI characters as improv actors, highlighting the critical role of 'memory' in creating immersive narratives. With personal anecdotes, they explore how AI storytelling is revolutionizing creative expression.

Lucas Crespo, the creative lead at Every, shares insights on blending classical aesthetics with modern design. He discusses harnessing AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney to craft captivating visuals and enhance user experiences. Lucas emphasizes the importance of art direction in a world of uniformity, advocating for a curated, organic aesthetic that captivates emotions. He also explores the role of AI in transforming design careers and the exciting potential of interactive AI characters in user engagement.