

Eye On A.I.
Craig S. Smith
Eye on A.I. is a biweekly podcast, hosted by longtime New York Times correspondent Craig S. Smith. In each episode, Craig will talk to people making a difference in artificial intelligence. The podcast aims to put incremental advances into a broader context and consider the global implications of the developing technology. AI is about to change your world, so pay attention.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 13, 2024 • 50min
#218 Jeff Boudier: The Future of Open Source AI Development (Hugging Face)
Jeff Boudier is the Head of Product and Growth at Hugging Face, a key player in open-source AI development. He discusses the journey of Hugging Face, evolving from a chatbot to hosting over a million AI models. Boudier highlights the importance of collaboration and transparency in AI innovation and explores trends in model deployment, including the shift towards video and audio generation. He also showcases the platform's tools, particularly 'Hugs,' which help companies integrate AI efficiently while maintaining control.

Nov 6, 2024 • 57min
#217 Ben Goertzel: The Path to Artificial General Intelligence, Decentralized AI and AI Consciousness
In this chat, Ben Goertzel, CEO of SingularityNET and a pioneer in artificial general intelligence (AGI), discusses his groundbreaking vision for machines that can achieve human-like intelligence. He delves into the impact of decentralized AI systems on societal transformation and creativity. Ben also tackles profound ethical questions, emphasizing the role of empathy in AGI. With insights on consciousness and the potential of open-source AI, he envisions a future where technology aligns with humanity's best values.

17 snips
Oct 30, 2024 • 52min
#216 Nenshad Bardoliwalla: Inside Vertex AI - The Ultimate AI Toolkit by Google Cloud
Nenshad Bardoliwalla, Director of Product Management for Vertex AI at Google Cloud, dives into the transformative power of AI tools in business. He details the three layers of Vertex AI: the Model Garden, Model Builder, and Agent Builder, each enhancing model selection and optimization. Nenshad discusses the rising roles in AI model evaluation, stressing collaboration among tech professionals. He also highlights the importance of human oversight in AI design and compares the efficiency of Google’s Tensor Processing Units with traditional GPUs.

Oct 23, 2024 • 44min
#215 Manuel Haug: How Celonis Uses AI to Optimize Business Processes
Manuel Haug, Field CTO at Celonis and an expert in process mining, discusses the transformative power of AI in optimizing business processes. He explains how Celonis uses digital twins to visualize workflows and identify inefficiencies. The conversation delves into the integration of generative AI and AI agents, showcasing their role in automating tasks and enhancing strategic decision-making. Manuel also highlights the potential of process intelligence graphs, offering insights into the future of autonomous enterprises and the impact of AI on productivity across industries.

90 snips
Oct 17, 2024 • 1h 1min
#214 Ece Kamar: Why AI Agents Are the Next Big Thing in Tech (Microsoft Research)
Ece Kamar, VP of Research at Microsoft and expert in AI agents, delves into the transformative power of autonomous AI systems. She shares how AI agents can perceive, learn, and execute complex tasks, revolutionizing technology interactions. Kamar discusses the shift from traditional models to multi-agent systems and their potential in automating workflows and enhancing customer experiences. She also addresses ethical considerations in AI development, advocating for responsible practices and highlighting future applications in scientific reasoning and emergency safety.

Oct 13, 2024 • 47min
#213 Mark Surman: How Mozilla Is Shaping the Future of Open-Source AI
Mark Surman, President of Mozilla, discusses the future of open-source AI and the importance of privacy and transparency in technology. He shares Mozilla’s vision for trustworthy AI and highlights the launch of Mozilla AI. Surman emphasizes the need for open alternatives to proprietary models and the unique AI integration in Firefox that grants users more choice. The conversation also touches on federated learning, AI governance, and Mozilla's role in supporting innovative companies, showcasing a commitment to ethical technology and user empowerment.

Oct 9, 2024 • 56min
#212 Thomas Dietterich: The Future of Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Computer Vision
Thomas G. Dietterich, a pioneer in machine learning, discusses the transformative landscape of AI, focusing on advancements in computer vision and the challenges of novelty detection. He explores the role of AI in computational sustainability, particularly in creating innovative materials and tackling environmental issues. Dietterich highlights the shift towards transformer models and the significance of reinforcement learning in wildfire management. His insights on the future of drug design and the integration of symbolic knowledge add depth to the conversation.

Oct 6, 2024 • 1h 16min
#211 Stuart Hameroff: Why AI Will Never Fully Replicate Human Consciousness
Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist and consciousness studies pioneer, dives deep into the intersection of quantum mechanics and the mind. He discusses how microtubules in neurons may unlock the mysteries of consciousness, challenging traditional neuroscience views. Hameroff argues that true consciousness requires quantum processes, not mere computation. He explores the implications of anesthesia on consciousness and shares groundbreaking theories linking the brain's function to the universe's structure. Join him for a mind-bending discussion!

Sep 30, 2024 • 57min
#210 Pedro Domingos: Exploring AI's Impact on Politics and Society
In this discussion, Pedro Domingos, a computer science professor and AI expert, shares insights on the nuanced impacts of AI on society. He presents his satirical novel, 2040, where an AI named Prezibot runs for president, sparking debates on democracy and the flaws in decision-making processes. Pedro examines the stark contrast between Silicon Valley's tech utopia and homelessness. He also addresses the evolving role of AI in decision-making, the challenges of AI governance, and stresses the importance of human engagement in leveraging AI’s potential responsibly.

Sep 25, 2024 • 40min
#209 Bill Moore: How BCG Created a Conversational AI Co-Host (Inside the Development of GENE)
Bill Moore, an expert at BCGX, discusses the innovative AI co-host Gene, designed for seamless human interaction. He shares the technical journey of overcoming challenges like latency and context handling to achieve over 90% accuracy in real-time conversations. The conversation delves into the ethics of AI, particularly the importance of gender neutrality in AI assistants, challenging outdated stereotypes. Moore emphasizes the potential of AI in media while balancing human creativity with analytical power.


