Peter Voss is the visionary founder and CEO of Aigo.ai, a pioneering company at the forefront of conversational AI and natural language processing. Over the past 15 years, Peter and his team have perfected a highly intelligent, hyper-personalized chatbot designed for enterprise customers. In 2009, Peter founded SmartAction.ai, which developed the first AI-based contact center technology. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Peter is an engineer, inventor, and AI pioneer who writes and presents on philosophical topics such as rational ethics, free will, and artificial minds. He is also deeply involved in futurism and radical life extension.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Peter Voss’s Journey: From an electronics engineer to creating a successful software company, and his deep dive into the nature of intelligence and AI.
• Defining AGI: What Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) means to Peter, and how we will recognize its achievement.
• Cognitive Skills Gap: The differences between current AI technologies like large language models (LLMs) and true cognitive skills required for AGI.
• Path to AGI: The limitations of deep learning and LLMs, and why cognitive AI is the necessary path towards achieving AGI.
• Human Interaction and Intelligence: The importance of real-time learning, metacognition, and minimal sensory input in developing AGI.
• Ethics and Responsibility in AI: The philosophical and practical considerations of developing AGI, including the ethical implications and societal benefits.

Resource

Connect with Peter 

AI fun fact article

An episode you might like about the future of corporate VC

Emil Winebrand, CEO and co-founder of insoundz, is a trailblazer in the AI and audio technology industry. With a master’s degree in engineering from Tel Aviv University, Emil’s career began deeply immersed in the tech world, taking a significant turn after a decade of service in the intelligence technology unit of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), where he developed a keen interest in AI for audio enhancement. Under Emil’s leadership, insoundz has emerged as a force in generative AI for audio technology, revolutionizing how we experience sound. His passion led to the development of the insoundz flagship product, Revive, which transforms any recording into studio-quality sound. Emil is also recognized for leading award-winning engineering teams across various domains, from electro-optics to algorithm development.

In this conversation, we discuss:

1. Emil’s early fascination with AI and neural networks, beginning at the age of 13.
2. His journey from studying electrical engineering to working in the IDF, where he encountered significant audio issues that sparked his passion for improving audio quality.
3. The creation and capabilities of InSounds’ product, Revive, which enhances audio by regenerating it with AI to achieve studio-quality sound.
4. The ethical considerations and challenges of using AI in audio engineering, including the potential for bias and the implementation of watermarking to prevent misuse.
5. The unique tech ecosystem in Tel Aviv and how the culture and education in Israel, including experiences in the IDF, contribute to the success of tech entrepreneurs.
6. Emil’s transition from CTO to CEO and the personal growth and challenges he faced in adapting to a leadership role focused on storytelling and vision rather than just technical details.

Resource 

Connect with Emil

AI fun fact article

An episode you might like about leveraging AI to create more time in your day

Adityo Prakash is a serial entrepreneur, high-tech CEO, amateur photographer, and author who transitioned from academia to revolutionize video streaming, and is now transforming drug discovery and commercialization. As the founder of Version, Adityo employs deep quantum modeling and AI to expedite the identification and development of innovative pharmaceuticals, potentially reshaping our approach to aging and healthcare. With degrees in math and physics from Caltech and over 40 patents to his name, Adityo is at the forefront of technological advancements in the medical field.

In this conversation, we discuss:

1. How Version uses deep quantum modeling and AI to revolutionize drug discovery and development, aiming to change the standard of care for various diseases.
2. Adityo’s journey from Caltech, where he studied math and physics, to founding Version and securing over 40 patents.
3. The challenges and opportunities at the intersection of high tech and biotech, and how these fields are converging to create new platform companies.
4. The limitations of traditional trial-and-error drug discovery methods and how Version’s approach offers a more systematic, atom-by-atom design of new drugs.
5. The potential for AI and advanced modeling techniques to address complex health issues like aging, by treating it as a disease with identifiable therapeutic targets.
6. The future of drug development, regulatory challenges, and how the integration of AI and physics could transform the pharmaceutical industry over the next decade.

Resources

Connect with Adityo 

AI fun fact article

An episode you might like about which AI businesses are getting investor dollars

Roy Atkinson is a renowned thought leader in IT service management and customer service. A prolific writer, speaker, analyst, and podcaster, Roy’s expertise has been featured in major tech publications. CIO Insight described him as a model for the future digital leader, and Nextiva named him one of the top 50 customer service experts of the decade. From 2010 to 2020, Roy’s extensive career included roles as an IT executive at the Jackson Laboratory, an analyst at Informatech, and CEO and principal advisor at Clifton Butterfield. Roy is also a polymath, with a broad range of knowledge across various subjects.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Roy’s Multifaceted Journey: Discover how Roy’s diverse background as a polymath, polyglot, and musician influenced his career in customer service and IT.
• Language Learning and Cultural Insights: Gain insights into Roy’s extensive language studies, including Spanish, French, Latin, German, Italian, and Serbian, and how this passion has enriched his personal and professional life.
• Customer Service Roots: Understand how early work experiences, from delivering newspapers to working in a busy supermarket and a bank, shaped Roy’s interest and expertise in customer service and customer experience.
• Music Industry Adventures: Hear fascinating stories about Roy’s 20-year career as a professional musician, his achievements, and notable collaborations with renowned artists like John Mayall, Todd Rundgren, and Don McLean.
• Transition to IT and Technology: Learn about Roy’s transition from music to IT, his role in managing IT systems, and his involvement with HDI, highlighting the parallels between the evolution of digital technology in music and business.
• Evolution of Employee Experience: Explore the changes in the employee experience over the past two decades, including the shift from a technology-centric approach to a focus on user experience, the impact of consumerization, and the rise of AI in IT management.

Resources

Connect with Roy 

AI fun fact article

An episode you might like about preventing AI from ruining us

Kendall Clark is the co-founder and CEO of Stardog, a leading enterprise knowledge graph platform with customers like Morgan Stanley, Raytheon, Bosch, and NASA. He founded the company in 2016 with a vision of making data access more meaningful. Self-taught in coding during his 20s, Kendall is on a mission to help people experience “aha” moments with data more frequently. Stardog recently launched VoiceBox, a conversational data platform enabling knowledge workers to interact with enterprise data using natural language.

In this episode, you will learn

• Kendall Clark’s journey from AI research to founding Stardog.
• The unique intersection of data management and knowledge management in the enterprise.
• The evolution and impact of AI on data management practices.
• The launch and significance of Stardog’s new conversational data platform, VoiceBox.
• Real-world applications of knowledge graphs, particularly with NASA.
• The importance of democratizing data access for non-technical knowledge workers.
• Much more

Allison has spent over a decade pioneering the of future of work as an employee, investor, and author. Her book, Breaking into Venture, offers a human perspective on succeeding in venture capital. As a General Partner at Semper Virens, she invests in technology transforming workforce, healthcare, and financial services. Allison contributes to Forbes, lectures at Columbia Business School and UC Berkeley Haas, and has a rich background including roles at Goldman Sachs, General Assembly, Fresco Capital, and Trinity Ventures. She holds a BA in Economics with honors and a minor in Film Studies from Harvard.

In this episode, you will learn how

• Allison grew up in the Midwest, witnessing her parents’ jobs being disrupted by technology, which influenced her dedication to understanding the future of work.
• After the financial crisis and seeing algorithmic job replacement at Goldman Sachs, she decided to focus her career on technology and innovation.
• Working at General Assembly introduced her to venture capital, where she saw the influence VCs have on startups, leading her to co-found Fresco Capital and later join Semper Virens.
• She emphasizes the importance of creating a unique value add in venture capital, highlighting the significance of building and activating a powerful network.
• Allison believes AI will augment jobs by taking over specific tasks rather than replacing entire jobs, advocating for a responsible AI implementation process to mitigate risks.
• Keys to picking a career that won’t be automated by a bot.

Resources

Connect with Allison

AI fun fact article

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Jonathan Siddharth is the visionary leader behind Turing, the unicorn AI juggernaut that powers technical recruiting for more than 900 companies, including Pepsi, Dell, Disney, Red Bull, and many others.

Turing is the world’s most successful AI-powered tech services company. Turing has reimagined tech services from the ground up with AI by providing enterprises with AI-vetted and matched talent, AI-accelerated application delivery, and access to AI transformation experts who built the technologies behind the most successful Silicon Valley companies.

Founded in 2018, the company has experienced tremendous growth with over three million global developers on its talent network and 1,000+ clients. Turing has received numerous awards, including Forbes’s “One of America’s Best Startup Employers,” #1 on The Information’s annual list of “Most Promising B2B Companies,” and Fast Company’s annual list of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies.” Turing’s most recent private fundraising round was oversubscribed and valued the company at $1.1 billion. Subsequent oversubscribed SAFEs were completed on a $4 billion valuation cap.

In this episode, you will:

• Uncover what it takes to build a big business.
• Discover how Jonathan’s early fascination with AI led to groundbreaking projects and innovations that transformed his career and the tech industry.
• Learn about Jonathan’s journey from AI researcher to successful entrepreneur, founding companies that achieved significant exits and rapid growth.
• Gain insights into the strategies for building a high-performance organization, including market analysis, team development, and continuous self-improvement.
• Understand how Turing leverages AI to disrupt the tech services market, offering superior talent sourcing and project delivery compared to traditional firms.
• Hear actionable advice on fostering a sense of urgency, prioritizing customer needs, and creating a culture of rigorous decision-making to drive business success.
• And much more…

Resource

Connect with Jonathan here

AGI Icons speaker event

AI fun fact article

An episode you might like about limiting AI’s adverse effects

Florin Rotar is the pioneering Chief AI Officer known for leading Avanade’s AI strategy. Avanade is a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft with 50,000 employees worldwide, established in 2000 to drive innovation on the Microsoft platform.

Previously serving as Avanade’s CTO, Florin has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s AI vision and strategy since his early days as a consultant. A seasoned speaker and thought leader in AI, he passionately advocates for AI’s potential to empower humanity.

Florin’s global outlook stems from his experience living in 10 countries across three continents. He frequently shares his insights on AI through blogging, offering a valuable resource on AI-related topics. His commitment to leveraging AI for positive impact is evident, as echoed by my own encounter with him during a panel discussion last year.

In this episode, we discuss

• How Florin became Chief AI Officer and why it’s an important role
• How to deploy more responsible AI practices
• The role importance of accountability in tech and how to ensure it’s baked into the creation of new products
• 2025 predictions about the evolution of AI
• What it will take for people to start trusting and collaborating with AI rather than seeing it as competition
• Much more

Resources

Florin’s LinkedIn
Fun fact article
Bruce Feiler discusses the future of relationships on AI and the Future of Work

Naomi Ionita and Derek Xiao are investors at Menlo Ventures, one of Silicon Valley’s most successful and storied venture capital funds. Menlo has backed over 80 public companies, manages over $5 billion in assets, and has been a pillar of the VC community for an astonishing 47 years. You likely know many of Menlo’s recent high-profile investments in companies like Anthropic, Chime, and Harness and historical investments such as 3Com, Hotmail, and Roku. Naomi and Derek recently led the firm’s publication of a 3,500-word report chronicling the state of generative AI in the enterprise.

In this episode, we discuss

• How they decide what to invest in
• The tripling of budgets for AI projects by 2025, according to a report from ISG and Glean
• Enterprise leaders face challenges in proving ROI and building trust in AI solutions.
• The top use cases for AI investment include customer service and enterprise search
• Menlo Ventures’ perspective on the current state of VC and the opportunities in AI investing.
• Insights from Menlo Ventures’ report on generative AI in the enterprise, including barriers to adoption and the potential for transformation
• The broader societal impacts and considerations of AI adoption in business and technology.

Resources

Ashu Garg from Foundation Capital on AI and the Future of Work

Menlo Ventures website

Fun fact article 

Steve Truitt is an award-winning science fiction author, actor, producer, and musician. He received the prestigious Golden Eagle Award for his documentary series on Discovery. Steve’s a space enthusiast and NASA history buff. He holds the unique record of having met five moonwalkers. Beyond his creative endeavors, Steve is also a coach and motivational speaker, recognized for his impactful work with the Best Motivational Book of the Year award for “Stop Waiting for Permission”. Steve brings a wealth of experience and insight to discussions on AI and the future of work.

In this conversation, we discuss 

• How Steve got started in media and entertainment before branching out to other industries
• Industries being most impacted by AI
• The tricky ethics of AI and how to harness it as a tool that does more good than harm
• Why humanity is so fickle and prone to conflict
• How leaders can stop the spread of misinformation with AI and what prevents them from doing so
• Much more

Chris Herringshaw is the Chief Technology Officer at Janus Henderson Investors, overseeing all technology aspects and serving on the Executive Committee. With over 15 years at Citadel Investment Group, he led Global Infrastructure Technology as Managing Director. Chris founded Quova, now part of NuStar, and held roles including Vice President of Engineering and CTO. He holds a BS in computer systems engineering from the University of Michigan, and actively contributes to shaping technology’s future through advisory roles and industry forums.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Venturing from entrepreneur to working for an established company.
• Chris Herringshaw’s background in technology, including his experience at Janus Henderson Investors and as a CTO at venture-backed startups.
• How Fin-Tech companies leverage the power of AI while mitigating risks associated with its unpredictable nature .
• Why human decision making still trumps AI and algorithmic based trading decisions in certain contexts.
• Predictions on where AI is headed in the next 12 months.
• The role of AI governance in ensuring the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence.

Resource

Previous episode about an AI app platform that’s growing faster than OpenAI 

Learn more about Janus Henderson 

AI fun fact article

Dmitry Shapiro  is a serial entrepreneur who most recently founded and is the CEO of YouAi and the popular AI app-builder MindStudio. He has a bold vision to help you index your mind which we unpack in today’s conversation. Previously, Dmitry founded and led GoMeta and  created the video sharing site Veoh in 2005 which  launched a few months after YouTube. Dmitry served as the CTO at MySpace before moving on to Google where was a Group Product Manager working on social graph, identity, and content discovery. Dmitry received his BS in EE from Georgia Tech.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The New York Times versus OpenAI and Microsoft copyright lawsuit and its implications for AI.
• The challenges and stakes for publishers when facing AI applications using copyrighted material.
• Dmitry Shapiro’s entrepreneurial journey and the vision behind MindStudio.
• The impact of generative AI on computing and its potential for revolutionizing work and home environments.
• Legal and ethical considerations surrounding AI, copyright, and fair use.
• The intersection of technology, venture capital, and innovation in shaping the future of AI applications.

As the Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, Suresh leads the product, engineering, design, and development teams that deliver innovative and scalable solutions for data science and analytics. He is also responsible for product pricing, packaging, and PLG strategies. Over the past 3 years, Alteryx has transformed into an analytics platform with market-leading end-to-end analytics solutions, covering the entire gamut of users from analysts to data engineers, developers, and data scientists.

With over 20 years of experience in the SaaS industry, Suresh has a proven track record of driving growth, customer satisfaction, and market leadership for cloud-based platforms and products.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The ongoing debate between AI guardrails and user autonomy, referencing Mark Gamine’s “spicy mayo problem” as a case study.
• Suresh Vittal’s background, journey through analytics and AI, and his role as Chief Product Officer at Alteryx.
• Alteryx’s mission of “analytics for all” and their focus on empowering users across technical and non-technical roles in data analytics.
• The integration of generative AI features into Alteryx’s platform to simplify complex workflows and enhance collaboration among data professionals.
• Insights into AI-first data management strategies and the evolving landscape of AI-driven tools in the future of work.
• The importance of governance and transparency in AI-powered analytics, ensuring clarity and understanding across complex data workflows for improved decision-making.

Additional resources:

Suresh’s LinkedIn page

Related episode you might enjoy about responsible AI use

AI fun fact article in the Atlantic 

Ben Kus is the chief technology officer at Box, where he’s responsible for developing Box’s technology vision and strategy.  Previously, Ben was the VP of product management at Box. Before joining Box, he was the co founder and CTO of Subspace, an enterprise security solution that was acquired by Box.

Ben’s held various leadership positions, including chief architect for IBM and senior director of technology for BigFix.

What we discuss:

• The role of generative AI in enhancing productivity and unlocking new use cases within enterprises, focusing on content management.
• Ben shares insights into Box’s innovative culture and compares it to other companies like IBM, highlighting the company’s approach to technology and innovation.
• The discussion touches on responsible AI use, regulatory considerations, and Box’s commitment to transparency and compliance.
• Ben addresses concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, emphasizing AI’s role in augmenting productivity rather than replacing human jobs.
• Future trends in AI, including personalized AI assistance and potential advancements in AI capabilities, are explored.
• The conversation ends with a fun anecdote about Box’s CEO, Aaron Levy, known for his magic tricks and the company’s unique culture of bringing your own self to work.

Additional resources

• Ben’s LinkedIn 
• Other episodes you might enjoy about the future of Media & AI
• Fun fact article

Neil Mandt is a Hollywood entrepreneur, a five-time Emmy winner, and producer of the 2022 Golden Globes.  A pioneer in AR and VR technology, and a pro sports owner, since getting his start in Hollywood at age 10, there’s almost no award he hasn’t received, and almost no new form of media he hasn’t tested and improved.

What we cover

• In this conversation, Neil shares insights into the evolving landscape of Hollywood and the role of AI in content creation and consumption.
• Neil discusses the potential of AI to democratize content creation, enabling individuals to produce high-quality movies and TV series with minimal resources.
• We delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the entertainment industry, including the gamification of user engagement and personalized content experiences.
• Neil emphasizes the importance of embracing AI tools for content creators to stay competitive and adapt to changing consumer preferences.
• Neil highlights the transformative potential of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in enhancing the content consumption experience.
• Neil provides valuable insights into the skills required for content producers to thrive in a future where AI-driven, interactive storytelling becomes the norm.
• And much more.

Additional resources

• Neil’s site — Neilmandt.com
• Course on making it in media and entertainment — https://neilmandt.com/course
• Other episodes you might enjoy — https://aiandthefutureofwork.buzzsprout.com/520474/14689727-babak-hodjat-cto-of-ai-at-cognizant-on-creating-siri-and-the-evolution-of-ai

Babak is the CTO of AI at Cognizant, the 34 billion market cap provider of tech services with more than 350, 000 global employees. He’s the former co-founder and CEO of Sentient, a business responsible for the core technology behind the world’s largest distributed artificial intelligence system. Before co-founding Sentient, Babak co-founded and was the CTO and a board member of Dejima where he developed the foundational technology that ultimately became Apple’s Siri.

He’s the primary inventor of Dejima’s patented technology. Babak has 31 granted or pending patents, is a published author, and is one of the most respected thought leaders in AI.  He holds a PhD in machine intelligence from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan.

In our conversation, we discuss: 

• The recent executive order on AI regulation issued by the Biden administration, exploring its key themes such as the development of a national registry for foundational large language models and safety test result sharing by vendors.
• Babak shares insights into the challenges and engineering intricacies involved in developing and scaling AI systems, emphasizing the importance of understanding the fundamental differences between large language models and human intelligence.
• The concept of responsible AI and the urgent need for defining unambiguous ethical standards, with Babak expressing concerns about AI potentially being used for destructive or malicious purposes in the wrong hands.
• Babak’s experience as a pioneer in developing foundational technologies for Siri
• The limitations and expectations surrounding large language models shed light on the challenges of fine-tuning and reinforcing these models, as well as the misconceptions related to their learning capabilities during interactions.
• The concept of active ontology and its role in the early development of Siri, highlights the revolutionary approach that focused on modeling functionality and ontology first, offering insights into the evolution of natural language technology over the past 25 years.

Matt Martin is on a mission to help the world make time for what matters. He founded Clockwise in 2016 to fix the time problem.

Since then, he and the team have raised 76 million from exceptional investors, including Greylock, Coatue, Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, and a common investor, the Slack Fund.  More than 15, 000 organizations run Clockwise. Matt was also an engineering leader at Relate IQ before Salesforce acquired it for $390 million in 2014.

In our conversation, we discuss: 

• Interesting ways to improve your productivity
• New developments in GPT-4 supporting productivity
• Challenges of time management and the impact of AI in reshaping scheduling practices, emphasizing the importance of tools like Clockwise in optimizing work schedules
• Lesson in entrepreneurship from Matt
• How AI can be leveraged to make your work more fulfilling
• Much more