Good Disruption

Dr. Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI's first Chief Economist and a distinguished professor at Duke University, delves into the transformative impact of large language models (LLMs). They discuss the explosive growth of ChatGPT and how it changes everyday workflows, from teaching to creative tasks. Chatterji addresses concerns about job displacement and the ongoing geopolitical implications of AI. He highlights the balance between academic research and industry application, emphasizing the need for ethical oversight as LLMs evolve and integrate into our lives.

Mark Hahn, a former naval aviator and operations lead at Zipline, dives into the transformative world of drones. He reveals how UAVs are revolutionizing industries from food delivery to warfare. Mark discusses the rapid maturation of drone technology, including improvements in battery life and autonomy. He outlines the dual-edged nature of drones, highlighting their humanitarian impact through medical deliveries while also addressing battlefield implications. Additionally, he explores the economic viability of drone deliveries and the regulatory challenges we face.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Sandhya Chhabra, a physician and senior medical advisor, delves into the rising trend of GLP-1 medications for weight loss. The conversation examines the societal implications and health perceptions surrounding these drugs, initially designed for diabetes management. Dr. Chhabra addresses the risks and benefits of GLP-1s, including potential side effects and the long-term effects on health. Insights into accessibility, economic factors, and their impact on the fitness industry make for a thought-provoking listen.

AI requires data, lots of it. Tech companies are rapidly building new data centers to house it, which will require massive amounts of electricity. How do we power them and stay on track with our emission reduction goals? An unlikely candidate is emerging – nuclear energy. But it’s not the reactor of the 60s that is being built.  Small modular nuclear reactors are dispatchable, site-flexible, and safe but can they overcome the regulatory, financial, and public perception hurdles to more broadly scale? Mike and Yael speak with Stephen Leff (MBA '20), a Project Manager at BWX Technologies and expert in nuclear energy sources about the promise and challenges of this clean tech solution.

If you ask Marvel Comics fans about quantum physics, they might reference time travel, multiverse, quantum realm, and Dr. Strange. Ideas of science fiction. Yet, for decades we have used quantum physics to power MRI machines, solar panels, and lasers.  More recently, big tech companies have entered a race to quantum supremacy, where quantum computers surpass silicon-based super computers in speed and complex problem solving. But what is it?  You won’t want to miss this Quantum 101!  Mike and Yael have a fascinating discussion about quantum computing with Joab Rosenberg, Founder and General Partner of QBeat Ventures, a venture capital fund that specializes in early-stage investments in quantum technologies.

Imagine testing a new medical device without putting someone on an operating table. Or experimenting with new autonomous capabilities without placing a car on the road.    Computer simulations have been used for decades to predict outcomes but now, digital twins create virtual environments that not only mirror their real-world counterparts but respond to real-time data to yield more confident decision making. Yael and Mike discuss digital twins with UVA Darden Professor Sam Levy, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Darden. Levy holds a Ph.D in Marketing from Carnegie Melon and his dissertation introduces a novel concept of “digital marketing twins” to better understand individual-level customer satisfaction.  Look for new episodes of Good Disruption on the first Monday of each month!

From Wall-E and the Iron Giant to I Robot and Terminator, Hollywood has portrayed robots as friendly and misunderstood but also a technology to be feared if left in the wrong hands.  Society has been fascinated with the idea of robots, ever since the term was introduced in the 1920s science fiction play “Rossum’s Universal Robots”.  Today, humanoid robots are being designed not only to carry out simple tasks but also, display a broad range of emotions and react to people in real-time.  But just because we can build it, should we? Yael and Mike are joined on this episode by Professor Frank Li, an Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at the UBC Sauder School of Business, a digital fellow at Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Digital Economy Lab, and a visiting fellow at NYU Stern Center for the Future of Management.  Professor Li’s research stands at the nexus of the economics of information technology, focusing on AI and robots, technical skills and future of work, and organizational changes.

In their end-of-year wrap-up, UVA Darden School of Business professors Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Mike Lenox discuss the impact of AI, and the rise of digital keys and AI in household use. They also discuss the future of cryptocurrency, the rapid adoption of autonomous vehicles, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, and revisit the potential of digital fashion and vertical farming. The Good Disruption Podcast wishes all of our listeners a safe and happy holiday season!

From “hanging chads” to claims of “rigged” Dominion voting machines, the technological improvements to voting technology aimed at improving efficiency and securing trust in the electoral process have been marred in controversy.  Yet, more countries around the world are shifting to electronic voting.  In the U.S., most votes will be counted using a touch screen or optical scanner on-site.  In the United Arab Emirates and Estonia all votes are submitted online. David Nemer, UVA Associate Professor in the Department of Media Studies, joins Yael and Mike for this special early edition of November's Good Disruption episode as we head into the U.S. Presidential Election. Together they discuss how culture and trust plays a critical role in the acceptance of electronic voting and the need to protect the entire electoral process from beginning to end.

For more than a century, utility-scale power plants have delivered electricity to millions of customers through a vast grid of connected substations, transmission lines, and distribution lines. This one-way generator-to-customer business model is shifting due to a rapid increase in DERs like rooftop solar and energy storage systems, capable of localized generation and transacting on the grid.  This is disruption in the purest sense, where poor planning and mismanagement of DERs can result in disruption to the current grid system.  Yet, if done right, DERs can add cost-efficiency and resiliency to the grid.  Mike and Yael are joined by the Executive Director of the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, Adam Sledd, to discuss DERs and important considerations for a modernized electrical grid.