The MAD Podcast with Matt Turck

Aidan Gomez, CEO of Cohere and co-author of the groundbreaking Transformers paper, reveals the serendipitous origins of this pivotal AI architecture. He discusses the role of synthetic data in creating cutting-edge enterprise solutions, emphasizing productivity over AGI hype. Aidan shares insights on building secure AI for industries like finance and telecommunications while adapting to multilingual needs in markets like Japan and Korea. His candid perspective on AI's real-world implications and the evolution of research environments is both enlightening and thought-provoking.

George Sivulka, founder and CEO of Hebbia, taps into the future of work by discussing how AI can eliminate tedious tasks for finance and law professionals. He shares insights on Hebbia's Matrix platform, which automates extensive reading while minimizing AI hallucinations. George explains the shift from specialized to generalized AI, the importance of effective data management, and how 'prompting' is becoming a key management skill. Plus, he tackles the myth of job loss due to AI and champions naiveté as a strength for young founders.

Benedict Evans, a respected tech analyst and advisor, dives into the nuances of the AI landscape. He questions if the AI revolution is truly transformative or just another tech shift. Despite AI's hype, he suggests core models might be becoming commodities. Evans highlights the success of ChatGPT compared to other platforms, discusses the future of consumer AI and its impact on e-commerce, and critiques the recent decline of AI doomerism. With humor and insight, he navigates the complex realities of AI advancements and challenges.

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.