Exponential Wisdom

Peter and Dan explore the technology of AI avatars. Diving into a fun conversation about intelligent digital humans that are now surfacing in certain industries, Peter and Dan envision how these AI avatars might also influence human interactions in business. In this episode: Peter talks about his experiments with three companies he's excited about in the AI avatar space, namely LifeKind, HourOne, and Futureloop. Having fed his own blogs, books and podcast episodes into such AIs as training data, Peter talks about the successes of these experiments, which have surprised him with extraordinarily lifelike audio and visuals.  Dan talks about how the pandemic and its accompanying work-from-home Zoom culture will accelerate people's willingness to use and interact with virtual avatars, particularly as meetings continue to remain virtual. Peter and Dan discuss AI avatars used in filmmaking, and how these might serve to immortalize deceased actors and singers. For instance, digital avatars with the likeness of Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley could one day even converse with live audiences.

Peter and Dan discuss recent breakthroughs in the commercial space industry, highlighting a slew of new startups entering the marketplace, whether in analytics or rocket engineering. As we witness the shift from a heavily government-funded space industry to one propelled by privately funded companies, the world will soon see more and more access to space. In this episode: Peter gives an update on the commercial space industry, as well as the challenges and opportunities of mining precious metals and rocket fuels on asteroids and the Moon. Dan narrates the story of two great historical inventions that allowed for deep water navigation: the sextant and chronometer, which enabled accurate measurements of latitude and longitude, respectively. These tools were critical to expanding the reach of human exploration across our largely water-coated planet. Fast-forward roughly 250 years, and Peter shows how they serve as a useful analogue for some of today’s pioneering commercial space rockets. Peter demonstrates how pioneering companies’ opening of the space frontier is unlocking a new abundance mindset in the commercial space sector… One in which we’re now witnessing a surge in capabilities and new opportunities.

Peter and Dan discuss the record-breaking speed of technological change and why the pandemic has accelerated rates of innovation. They also showcase the critical importance of honing your mindset during this time, as the pandemic continues to shape our industries, requiring us to adapt. In this episode: Peter shares one of his biggest lessons learned over the past year: to “never let a good crisis go to waste.” He explains why now is the most opportune moment to make changes in your organization, to internalize that we are not returning to “normal,” but must rather propel our businesses towards a future of new paradigms and novel markets.  Dan talks about the concept of being a hero to others during times of crisis, explaining why entrepreneurs naturally think this way, and why such an instinct is more relevant than ever. Peter emphasizes the increased velocity of communications and deal-making in a business world of virtual meetings, decimating the time previously needed to fly and meet face-to-face. Dan further highlights the value of virtual events and environments to help more people and collaborate more quickly on ideas.

Peter and Dan discuss how the pandemic has changed our educational system forever. As countless schools have turned to fully online curriculums, entrepreneurs and educators are experimenting with a “new normal,” innovating novel platforms for learning from home. In this episode: Peter gives an update on being a parent as his kids attend school online. Dan explains why the school system must increasingly accommodate the individual, and Peter outlines the need for educational platforms to help children find their passions. Dan remarks that this is the first time in 50 years that most children know what their parents do for a living. As a result, children are interacting in the domain of working adults more than ever before. Exploring implications, Peter elaborates on the real-time education now afforded to children through exposure to their parents’ day-to-day working lives. Peter and Dan illustrate why skills are the most pivotal asset for getting hired in today’s job market. Where you went to school is ultimately far less important than being equipped with the skills required for a given task or position. Emphasizing this phenomenon and its application to the gaming world, Peter highlights the rate at which his (and other) kids can learn a game and become experts.

Peter and Dan discuss transformations in healthcare as a result of the pandemic and consequent stay-at-home orders. Peter envisions a future wherein people don’t go to the hospital when they get sick, but instead have a hospital at their fingertips thanks to sensors, wearables, and an abundance of personalized medical data. In this episode: Peter gives an update on COVAXX and a number of other vaccines developed for COVID-19.  Dan delves into tele-health transformations within our modern-day healthcare system.  Peter and Dan discuss why they believe the pandemic will speed up healthcare transformations, including: AI collaboration with physicians; drugs customized and designed for the individual; and rapid improvements in wearable hardware and commercial viability.

Peter and Dan continue their conversation about the Abundance Platinum Longevity trip, where Peter and a select group of entrepreneurs, executives and investors spent five days learning from the top longevity and immunology experts in two of California’s top biotech hubs. In this episode: Peter talks about the importance of two technologies, vaccines and gene therapy, both with incredible medical benefits. In particular he mentions a company called Vaxxinity who is democratizing healthcare using vaccines against chronic diseases. Another company Gordion Biotechnology is using a gene therapy based discovery platform to radically improve therapeutic R&D for complex diseases of aging.  Dan and Peter discuss the importance of having a longevity mindset in order to be on the content lookout for new technology breakthroughs that will allow us to live longer healthier lives.  Peter gives a rapid overview of twenty companies and his biggest takeaways from his chat with the CEOs including technologies like brain computer interface, synalytic medicines for senescent cells and AI drug discovery.

Peter and Dan continue their conversation about the recent Abundance Platinum Longevity trip, where Peter and a select group of entrepreneurs, executives and investors spent five days learning from the top longevity and immunology experts in two of California’s top biotech hubs. In this episode: Peter and Dan discuss the explosion of sensors and preventive medicine breakthroughs now emerging at the helm of today’s healthcare market. As smartphone apps and AI more seamlessly enable personalized medicine, consumers will soon be able to monitor and act upon their own health data in real-time. Peter explores his biggest takeaways in the field of CRISPR and genetic engineering. Most notably, Peter showcases Mammoth Biosciences, a pioneering startup on a mission to democratize access to next-generation CRISPR tools for diagnostics and therapeutics.  Peter highlights the importance of cutting out sugar from your diet, a shift critically conducive to improving longevity outcomes. He similarly emphasizes his belief that the biggest contributor to living past 80 is to not die from something stupid.

Peter and Dan recap the recent Abundance Platinum Longevity trip, where Peter and a select group spent five days learning from the top longevity and immunity experts in two of California’s top biotech hubs. In this episode: Peter offers his biggest takeaways from the trip, including one insight from Dr. Deepak Srivastava, President of the Gladstone Institutes, who explained why heart disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. A tremendous feat, Dr. Srivastava’s recent discovery involves using gene therapy to convert fibroblasts into heart myocytes, reversing scar tissue in the heart, and helping heart attack victims rapidly recover to live healthy lives.  Dan and Peter agree that mindset is one of the most important pillars of living a long and healthy life. Peter explains why the most important goal is to “not die from something stupid,” as advances in longevity technology will have dramatic impacts on the human healthspan in the next 5-10 years.  Peter talks about the power of intermittent fasting, citing a majority of featured scientists who have touted its health benefits.

Peter and Dan discuss the recent launch and recovery of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which carried humans in a commercially built spacecraft to and from the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley splashed down on August 2, 2020 making it the first water landing since 1975. In this episode: Peter gives a quick history of the U.S. and Soviet Union space race, spanning the launch of Sputnik in 1957 to the recent 2020 launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon. Peter breaks down the cost of a rocket launch and explains how SpaceX brought this cost down 10X by making the rockets reusable.  Dan and Peter discuss why the next 10-20 years will be the era in human history wherein humans move irreversibly off planet Earth and into space.

Peter and Dan discuss one of Dan’s latest concepts: are you a Simplifier or a Multiplier? Every great entrepreneur is primarily one or the other, and identifying which category you most fall into offers meaningful insight into the way you instinctively create value. In this episode: Dan talks about his book Simplifier-Multiplier Collaboration and one of the strategies it highlights: once you identify as either a simplifier or multiplier, you can find the perfect collaborator: your opposite. Simplifier-Multiplier collaborations often lead to unprecedented breakthroughs and results, giving entrepreneurs the freedom to focus exclusively on what they do best. Peter discusses the challenge wherein entrepreneurs attempt to play both roles out of necessity, but emphasizes that entrepreneurs tend to add greatest value when left to act on their natural affinities.  Dan elaborates on the problems that arise when a simplifier tries to play the role of a multiplier, or vice versa. In this scenario, each type becomes a “complicator,” and hence departs from one’s most useful state.