No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups
Conviction
At this moment of inflection in technology, co-hosts Elad Gil and Sarah Guo talk to the world's leading AI engineers, researchers and founders about the biggest questions: How far away is AGI? What markets are at risk for disruption? How will commerce, culture, and society change? What’s happening in state-of-the-art in research? “No Priors” is your guide to the AI revolution. Email feedback to show@no-priors.com.Sarah Guo is a startup investor and the founder of Conviction, an investment firm purpose-built to serve intelligent software, or "Software 3.0" companies. She spent nearly a decade incubating and investing at venture firm Greylock Partners.Elad Gil is a serial entrepreneur and a startup investor. He was co-founder of Color Health, Mixer Labs (which was acquired by Twitter). He has invested in over 40 companies now worth $1B or more each, and is also author of the High Growth Handbook.
Episodes
Mentioned books
160 snips
Apr 17, 2025 • 41min
Predicting the Earth with Josh Goldman: How KoBold Uses AI to Find Critical Minerals
Josh Goldman, cofounder and president of KoBold Metals, shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing the search for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt. He discusses the challenges of aggregating geological data and the need for innovative exploration strategies that blend traditional and modern approaches. Goldman emphasizes the importance of regulatory knowledge and community relationships in mineral exploration. The episode also explores how KoBold validates underground hypotheses and redefines success in a landscape of scarce world-class deposits.
376 snips
Apr 10, 2025 • 42min
From Job Displacement to AI Trainers, Brendan Foody on Work in the AI Age
Brendan Foody, CEO and co-founder of Mercor, offers a glimpse into the future of the workforce as AI transforms hiring practices. He discusses how AI can identify exceptional talent and even assess unique qualities like 'taste.' The conversation dives into the implications of job displacement, emphasizing the need for adaptable skills. Brendan also shares his vision for human roles in an increasingly automated environment, questioning whether AI will serve as a contributor or take on managerial responsibilities.
236 snips
Apr 3, 2025 • 28min
Public Markets, Image Gen, and Specialized Models, with Sarah and Elad
Explore the fascinating advancements in image generation technology, fueled by platforms like MidJourney. Discover how public market fluctuations impact the tech industry and the rise of specialized AI models. Learn about the Model Context Protocol, which enhances efficiency by integrating diverse data sources. The conversation also highlights what expertise will be critical for future innovation, amidst growing consumer interest in AI applications. Dive into the evolving landscape of technology and the incredible potential it holds!
115 snips
Mar 27, 2025 • 39min
Conversations Are the Source of Truth in Healthcare with Abridge CEO Shiv Rao
Shiv Rao, CEO and founder of Abridge, discusses his innovative journey as both a cardiologist and entrepreneur. He highlights how Abridge uses AI to alleviate clerical burdens, enabling doctors to focus more on patient care. Shiv shares insights on building trust within existing healthcare systems and the unique opportunities present in today's healthcare AI landscape. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between medical professionals and tech developers, aiming to transform doctor-patient interactions for better health outcomes.
351 snips
Mar 20, 2025 • 35min
The Robotics Revolution, with Physical Intelligence’s Cofounder Chelsea Finn
Chelsea Finn, cofounded Physical Intelligence and is an Associate Professor at Stanford, where she focuses on enabling AI systems to learn general-purpose skills. In this engaging discussion, she sheds light on how robots acquire intelligence and the necessity for diverse data in training. Chelsea compares robotics advancements to self-driving cars and reveals the importance of innovative sensory systems. She shares insights about the evolving open-source landscape and emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts in robotics to achieve effective real-world functionality.
403 snips
Mar 13, 2025 • 51min
Copilot, Agent Mode, and the New World of Dev Tools with GitHub’s CEO Thomas Dohmke
This episode dives into the innovative features of GitHub Copilot, emphasizing its 'agent mode' for collaborative coding. The discussion highlights Copilot's evolution from a simple tool to a team player in software development. Competition in the developer tools market is explored, with insights into the strategic importance of understanding developer needs. They also analyze AI's impact on software pricing and what Copilot's success means for Microsoft and the industry at large, plus Thomas shares his fascinating journey from East Berlin.
59 snips
Mar 5, 2025 • 36min
National Security Strategy and AI Evals on the Eve of Superintelligence with Dan Hendrycks
Dan Hendrycks, the Director of the Center for AI Safety and an advisor to xAI and Scale AI, discusses crucial topics around AI's risks. He highlights the stark difference between alignment and safety in AI, underscoring its implications for national security. The potential weaponization of AI is explored, along with strategies like 'mutually assured AI malfunction.' Dan also advocates for policy measures to govern AI development and the need for international cooperation in mitigating risks. His insights reveal the urgency of managing AI’s dual-use nature.
124 snips
Feb 27, 2025 • 41min
Building the Platform for Scientific Breakthrough, with Noubar Afeyan of Moderna and Flagship Pioneering
Noubar Afeyan, Co-founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering and a key figure behind Moderna, shares his insights on fostering scientific breakthroughs. He discusses the challenges of navigating regulatory terrain and the urgency of innovation in healthcare. Noubar explores the vital role of AI in medicine and reflects on lessons learned from pandemic responses. He introduces his innovative concept of polyintelligence, emphasizing collaboration between human, nature, and machine intelligence for future discoveries.
69 snips
Feb 25, 2025 • 58min
Virtual Cell Models, Tahoe-100 and Data for AI-in-Bio with Vevo Therapeutics and the Arc Institute
In this engaging discussion, Nima Alidoust, CEO of Vevo Therapeutics, and Patrick Hsu, CEO of the Arc Institute, dive into the revolutionary Tahoe-100M dataset that is reshaping drug discovery. They explore the fascinating potential of virtual cell models and AI in understanding disease behaviors at a cellular level. The conversation highlights challenges in data collection and the critical need for high-quality datasets in biomedical research. They also discuss the importance of open-sourcing data to foster collaboration and innovation in the biotech field.
78 snips
Feb 20, 2025 • 38min
Building Hard Tech in Hard Markets: Kyle Vogt on Cruise, Twitch, and The Bot Company
Kyle Vogt, a serial entrepreneur known for co-founding Twitch and Cruise, now leads The Bot Company, focusing on AI-driven home robotics. In this conversation, he discusses the journey of building transformative tech and the challenges of scaling autonomous systems. Vogt believes home robots are the next frontier and draws parallels between autonomous vehicles and robotics. He also addresses consumer skepticism, the differences in U.S. and Chinese manufacturing practices, and the regulatory needs to bolster a competitive domestic robotics industry.
