The MAD Podcast with Matt Turck

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.

Mike Murchison, CEO of Ada and a leader in AI-powered customer service, discusses the game-changing shift from chatbots to advanced AI agents that handle customer interactions effortlessly. He reveals that these agents can automate up to 83% of customer interactions with empathy and efficiency. The conversation covers the importance of model orchestration, the ethical guidelines needed for AI, and how AI can enhance collaboration across departments. Mike also teases exciting future developments, including AI's role in product innovation and real-time multilingual support.

Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, shares his inspiring journey from a student project to leading one of the most innovative companies in AI software development. He discusses the creation of Replit, the launch challenges he faced, and his pivotal moments working at Codecademy and Facebook. Amjad reveals how AI and coding agents are transforming software creation, democratizing access to coding skills, and fostering creativity in development. He also addresses the philosophy of techno-optimism and the current tech landscape under the Biden administration.

Justin Borgman, CEO of Starburst, leads his company in transforming data analytics with the open-source project Trino. He shares insights into the evolution from data lakes to lakehouses, emphasizing the importance of open formats like Iceberg for efficient data storage. Justin discusses how Starburst balances on-prem and cloud solutions to cater to diverse enterprise needs. He also highlights the critical role of AI in modern applications and how community engagement has fueled Trino’s success in a competitive landscape.

In this enlightening conversation, Ben Rogojan, a seasoned data engineering consultant and creator of the Seattle Data Guy brand, explores the evolving landscape of data engineering and its critical role in supporting AI technologies. He shares insights into the daily life of a data engineer, the skills essential for aspiring professionals, and the ongoing importance of SQL. The discussion also touches on trends like the rise of Iceberg, contrasting experiences in big tech versus traditional companies, and the predictions shaping the future of data workflows.

Chip Huyen, an esteemed AI engineer and author, shares his insights on AI engineering. He distinguishes AI engineering from traditional machine learning, explaining how foundational models democratize app development. Huyen dives into the crucial role of prompt engineering and the complexities of AI model evaluation. With a closer look at the generative AI stack, he dispels myths around Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and discusses the evolving nature of AI agents. This conversation is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the future of AI technology.