The MAD Podcast with Matt Turck

In this discussion, Jeremy Howard, an AI scientist and co-founder of Answer AI and Fast.ai, reveals his journey from philosophy to revolutionizing AI product development with a tiny team. He shares how Answer AI is redefining R&D by focusing on real-world applications instead of chasing AGI. Topics include the rise of open-source models, the efficiency wars in AI, and innovative tools like Solve It and Shell Sage that empower users. Jeremy emphasizes the need for small, mission-driven teams to prioritize societal benefits over profits.

Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData, shares the remarkable journey of InfluxDB, the leading open-source time series database, which surged from 3,000 to over 1.3 million users. He discusses the major architectural overhaul to InfluxDB 3.0, tackling the cardinality problem and the shift to object storage. Kaplan reveals insights about the competitive landscape against Databricks and Snowflake, and the tough lessons learned in monetizing their vast user base. The evolution of IoT and its critical role in analytics also takes center stage in this engaging conversation.

Mike Palmer, CEO of Sigma Computing, challenges the status quo of business intelligence, boldly stating that the world doesn’t need another BI tool. He shares insights on how Sigma simplifies data analysis using a spreadsheet-like interface for massive datasets without SQL. Mike dives into their journey from $2M to $100M ARR, the technical architecture behind their platform, and critiques major players like Google and Microsoft for rebranding outdated tech. The discussion is filled with thought-provoking ideas on the future of BI and the untapped potential of enterprise data.

In a compelling discussion, Arvind Jain, CEO of Glean and former Google search engineer, delves into the evolving landscape of AI in enterprises. He shares insights on the race between AI models, the shift from closed to open-source systems, and the significance of human oversight in AI agents. Jain reveals Glean's journey from search technology to empowering AI agents that enhance productivity, predicting a future where every employee is supported by proactive AI tools tailored to their workplace needs. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the practical applications of AI today.

Aaron Levie, CEO and co-founder of Box, shares insights on the transformative power of AI in enterprises. He discusses the early days of Box and the challenges of leading a public company amidst market volatility. Aaron highlights the underutilization of enterprise data and unpacks innovations like AI agents and interoperability. He emphasizes building an AI culture and the generational shift in workplace practices. With stark observations on the future of AI integration, Levie provides practical takeaways for anyone interested in the tech landscape.

Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake and former Google executive, shares insights on transforming Snowflake into an AI-driven data cloud. He discusses the strategic shift toward open data formats and the rapid scaling of AI tools like Cortex Analyst. With lessons from his startup Neeva, Sridhar explores the evolving search landscape and highlights the crucial link between strong data strategies and successful AI initiatives. He also delves into the importance of partnerships with companies like OpenAI to enhance Snowflake's capabilities.

Join François Chollet, a leading AI researcher and philosopher behind Keras, and Mike Knoop, co-founder of Zapier and the ARC Prize, as they explore the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI). They discuss the launch of ARC AGI 2 and how current language models fall short in true intelligence benchmarks. Tune in to hear about advancements like the O3 model, the significance of test-time adaptation, and the philosophical underpinnings of intelligence. Their new research lab, Ndea, aims to revolutionize AI and foster rapid scientific progress.

Lin Qiao, CEO of Fireworks AI and former leader at Meta, shares insights on revolutionizing AI infrastructure. She reflects on her transition from managing hundreds of engineers to simplifying AI deployment for developers. Lin delves into the evolution of PyTorch, emphasizing its role in democratizing AI, and discusses the innovative strategies behind optimizing AI performance. Topics include function calling, real-time application integration, and future predictions for AI agents in 2025, highlighting the significance of tailored models and competitive data strategies.

Join Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual AI and co-author of the groundbreaking RAG paper, as he delves into the latest advancements in AI, including GPT-4.5 and the revolutionary DeepSeek. He shares insights into the evolution and architecture of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), explaining its transition to Agentic RAG and the significance of self-learning systems. The conversation also tackles the challenges enterprises face in deploying AI, balancing accuracy with inherent inaccuracies, and navigating the future landscape of contextual AI.

Gaurav Misra, CEO of Captions, leads a company that empowers over 10 million creators with AI-driven video editing tools. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing video production, making it accessible for all. Gaurav shares the strategic vision that birthed Captions, differentiating it from giants like Adobe and Capcut. He highlights challenges in AI video editing, the importance of user experience, and the potential of AI to democratize content creation. Dive into the unique advantages of building such a startup in New York's flourishing tech scene.