Shows
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewTyler Cowen on how AI will reorder economies, schools, and spiritualityEconomist and polymath Tyler Cowen challenges Silicon Valley's optimistic projections about AI-driven economic growth. We explore what could slow AI's economic impact, despite its remarkable capabilities – and where humans find the new normal amidst major shifts.Timestamps: (00:00) Episode trailer (01:47) The problem with Silicon Valley's AI-driven growth projections (06:02) The institutional bottleneck to AI progress (10:49) Markets aren’t pricing in a radical AI future (12:53) Are we heading for a great job displacement? (17:02) Is GDP still worth talking about? (19:11) Who does AI benefit most? (21:11) Will AI cause...2025-06-0448 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewGitHub CEO on what AI means for developer salaries, SaaS, and moreThomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub, joins Azeem to explore how AI is fundamentally transforming software development. In this episode you'll hear: (01:50) What’s left for developers in the age of AI? (04:54) How GitHub Copilot unlocks flow state (07:09) Three big shifts in how engineers work today (10:47) Is software development art or assembly line? (15:26) Why developers are climbing the abstraction ladder (19:35) Have we already lost control of the code? (23:15) What it’s actually like to work with AI coding agents (39:35) Welcome to the age of ultra-personalized software(45:37) Building the next-generation web Thomas's links:GitHub: https://github.com/LinkedIn: https://www.l...2025-05-2853 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewInside Box’s AI playbook with founder & CEO Aaron LevieAaron Levie, CEO & co-founder of Box, joins Azeem Azhar to explore how an “AI-first” mindset is reshaping every layer of Box – from product road-maps to pricing – and what that teaches the rest of us about building faster, smarter organisations.Timestamps:(00:00) Episode trailer(02:04) The "lump of labor fallacy" in sci-fi books(07:37) When individual productivity gains don’t translate to teams(12:32) Box’s Friday AI demos(21:23) How agents might redefine 100 years of management science(26:37) A lesson on AI innovation from the early days of Ford(29:52) Sundar Picha...2025-05-2148 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewChina’s catching up to US AI… Here’s why it won’t matterLennart Heim, a researcher and information scientist at RAND Corporation, joins Azeem Azhar to unpack a provocative claim: China is catching up with US AI capabilities, but it doesn't matter. Timestamps: (00:00) Episode trailer (01:19) Lennart’s core thesis (03:26) Why compute matters so much (07:31) The investment split between model R&D and model execution (11:18) How test-time compute impacts costs (16:14) The geopolitics of compute (21:32) Why does the U.S have more compute capacity than China? (25:01) The trade-off between economic needs and national-security needs (31:54) How technolog...2025-05-1449 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSir Niall Ferguson decodes Trump, China, and the new world orderSir Niall Ferguson, renowned historian and Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the evolving relationship between the U.S. and China, Trump's foreign policy doctrine, and what the new global economic and security order might look like. (00:00) What most analysts are missing about Trump (05:43) The win-win outcome in Europe–U.S relations (11:17) How the U.S. is reestablishing deterrence (15:50) Can the U.S. economy weather the impact of tariffs? (23:33) Niall's read on China (29:29) How is China performing in tech? (33:35) What mig...2025-04-2352 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewWhat it’s like on the frontlines of Trump’s tariff’s warIn this episode, Azeem Azhar speaks with Ryan Petersen, CEO and founder of logistics platform Flexport, about the current state of global trade amidst escalating tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruption. Ryan offers unique insights from the frontlines of the US-China trade war and explores how businesses are adapting to a rapidly changing landscape. (00:00) Episode trailer (01:12) Ryan's overall thoughts and predictions (03:40) Why shipping is crucial to your everyday life (08:07) Why tariffs may actually increase global shipping (11:34) Who’s pausing their China shipments? (14:29) The mindset of Flexport customers right no...2025-04-1643 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewA tour of the tech boom — 5 waves you need to understandAzeem Azhar welcomes Packy McCormick, founder and investor at Not Boring, to discuss the current tech landscape. In this episode you'll hear: (01:50) What Packy got wrong (and right) about Web3 (10:17) The shift to "know thyself and know thyself-nots" (14:28) Europe just woke up (18:46) Bits and atoms are cool again (21:10) London airport shutdown reveals a deeper challenge (23:32) A new kind of home energy infrastructure (29:28) A theory on Eric Schmidt's new CEO role (34:08) What's the role of nuclear in a solar + battery world? (40:33...2025-04-1042 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewAre we ready for human-level AI by 2030? Anthropic's co-founder answersAnthropic's co-founder and chief scientist Jared Kaplan discusses AI's rapid evolution, the shorter-than-expected timeline to human-level AI, and how Claude's "thinking time" feature represents a new frontier in AI reasoning capabilities.In this episode you'll hear:Why Jared believes human-level AI is now likely to arrive in 2-3 years instead of by 2030How AI models are developing the ability to handle increasingly complex tasks that would take humans hours or daysThe importance of constitutional AI and interpretability research as essential guardrails for increasingly powerful systemsOur new show This was originally recorded for "F...2025-04-0152 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewInvesting in Deep Tech for an Abundant FutureCould deep tech companies bring about an age of abundance? Matt Ocko, co-founder and managing partner of Data Collective Venture Capital, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the art of investing in startups that aim to transform entire industries with radically cheaper, cleaner products.
They also discuss:
Why establishing “computational advantage” is key to a successful deep tech approach.
How AbCellera, one of Matt’s portfolio companies, used machine learning and extensive automation to swiftly develop an antibody therapy for Covid-19.
How investors should judge the right time to invest in a new technology.
@mattocko
@azeem2021-02-1743 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewFrom Insurance Giant to Tech Platform: The Story of Ping AnFrom an insurance giant to an incubator of cutting-edge tech companies, Ping An’s evolution is impressive and unique. Chief Innovation Officer Jonathan Larsen joins Azeem Azhar to explore how the China-based holding conglomerate has managed such agility at immense scale.
They also discuss:
Why being founder-led has enabled bold movement into new markets.
How Ping An created the world’s largest telemedicine platform from scratch.
Why innovation must come from the company’s core culture and leadership.
Why Ping An’s success is linked to pivoting the entire group to a self-built cloud platform.
@PingAnTe...2021-02-1051 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBuilding A Quantum Computer with Light“Quantum computing is to conventional computing what a warp drive is to a bicycle,” says Jeremy O’Brien, CEO of PsiQuantum. He joins Azeem Azhar to explore the exponential advantage quantum computing will bring to problems across science and industry, and how he’s using photonics to build the first productive quantum computer.
They also discuss:
Why only quantum computers can help solve our most intractable problems.
Why VCs are not rushing to fund this transformative technology.
How existing silicon chip techniques can be adapted to build components for photonic quantum computing.
@azeem...2021-02-0350 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBringing DARPA’s Innovation to HealthRegina Dugan, CEO of new biomedical non-profit Wellcome Leap and former director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the U.S., joins Azeem Azhar to explore how she approaches delivering breakthrough technologies, and why she has now set her sights on global health.
They also discuss:
The thinking behind DARPA’s early support of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine technology.
How the DARPA model of innovation can apply to advancing medical technologies.
How the lessons from her experience of childhood cancer have guided Dugan’s career.
Further resources
“Understanding the Enduring Consequences of Covid...2021-01-2748 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBig Tech and a Decade of Antitrust with Cory DoctorowCory Doctorow, award-winning author, technologist, and founder, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the power of big tech monopolies and how a future wave of antitrust lawsuits could unleash innovation across the sector.
They also discuss:
How antitrust litigation, even if it fails, has a powerful effect on corporate behavior.
Why interoperability is key to a competitive marketplace.
How software patents have been weaponized to protect monopolies.
Further resources:
“Regulating Big Tech makes them stronger, they need competition instead” (The Economist, 2019)
“Google lawsuit: the opening salvo in a battle to restrain Big Tech” (Financial Times, 2020)
“How to Des...2021-01-0629 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewLearning from 2020: Azeem’s TakeawaysIn his reflection on this tumultuous year, Azeem Azhar finds hope in our reaction to the pandemic. The achievements made through collective action and the latest technologies have been life-saving.
Azeem also explores:
What businesses will need in order to thrive in 2021.
How new multi-stakeholder institutions will emerge to meet the challenges in the coming period of friction and fragmentation.
Questions sent in by subscribers to the Exponential View Newsletter.
Further reading:
IKEA: Making a $40 Billion Company Climate Positive (Exponential View Podcast, 2020)
What if Every Day Was Pandemic Day (Exponential View, 2020)
Your Technologies of...2020-12-3028 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewApplying the Pandemic Mindset to Climate Change with Cory DoctorowCory Doctorow, award winning author, technologist, and founder, joins Azeem Azhar to examine how the pandemic mindset around harnessing massive collective action and exponential technologies for the good of humanity could also help us mitigate climate change.
They also discuss:
How Covid-19 exposed the need to reset the relationship between market and state.
Why the predicted 20-30 percent unemployment rate will force dramatic government action in 2021.
Further resources:
What can climate tech do for us? (Exponential View 2020)
Cory Doctorow: Full Employment (Locus Magazine 2020)
How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism (Online book by Cory Doctorow 2020)
@d...2020-12-2330 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewMaking Venture Capital Work for EntrepreneursLeila Rastegar Zegna, co-founder and general partner of Kindred Capital, joins Azeem Azhar for a deep dive into venture capital: how it really works, what’s broken, and how to fix it. They also explore a new model for venture capital, where founders become partners in the fund. This new approach aims to align incentives for both entrepreneurs and investors, in order to build a healthier innovation community.
They also discuss:
Why venture capital is a “people business,” not a finance business.
Why obsessiveness is a more important than expertise for founders.
Why not all startups should...2020-12-1649 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewIKEA: Making a $40 Billion Company Climate PositiveIKEA generates 0.1 percent of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. Can this $40 billion multinational company become climate positive by 2030?
Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ingka Group, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how to grow a business while investing in renewable energy, sourcing sustainable materials, and building a circular economy.
They also discuss:
How being a leader in the “green revolution” is a business opportunity.
How mass production could actually expedite progress towards sustainability.
Why supporting customers in their efforts to re-use and recycle is part of IKEA’s plan.
Further resources:
“The Drive to D...2020-12-0944 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewChina’s Technology Transformation with Kai-Fu Lee“China is no longer a copycat. It’s an innovator,” says Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures and former president of Google China. He joins Azeem Azhar to explore China’s rapidly evolving tech scene, their embrace of automation, and their journey to AI dominance.
They also explore:
How Covid has dramatically accelerated the use of consumer-facing robots.
Why office workers are most vulnerable to replacement by AI.
Why China is so attractive for tech investors.
Further resources:
“China, an AI Superpower” (Exponential View podcast, 2018)
“Kai-Fu Lee on how covid spurs China’s great robotic leap for...2020-12-0244 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewMaterials Built by Microbes: A Revolution in Materials ScienceFrom plastics to clothing, we depend on materials derived from petroleum. But how do we create the next generation of materials that perform even better than current options without destroying the environment?
Zymergen CEO Joshua Hoffman joins Azeem Azhar to explore how the precision biochemistry of genetically engineered microbes is opening up new pathways for creating a new generation of high-performance, environmentally sustainable materials for the 21st Century.
They also discuss:
The transformative implications for the stagnant $3 trillion materials industry.
Engineering skin products that don’t pose a threat to the environment.
The value of...2020-11-2539 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSilicon Valley Needs a Shakedown with Chamath PalihapitiyaChamath Palihapitiya, investor and CEO of Social Capital, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the dysfunctional relationship between capital and companies, why SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies) are such a necessary innovation, and why he’s pivoted his own firm to focus on hard, important issues like climate change and health.
They also discuss:
How SPACs can open up the investing ecosystem for everyday retail investors.
What tech regulators should learn from GDPR and how well-intentioned regulation can go wrong.
How aggressive taxation of Big Tech could redirect capital to startups.
Further resources:
“The Unusual Ambi...2020-11-1848 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHow AI and Genomics Are Reshaping FarmingAs the world population grows and climate change intensifies, how can we transform the food supply chain to be more sustainable and resilient? Mike Zelkind, co-founder and CEO of 80 Acres Farms, is building a network of hyper-efficient, high-tech, indoor farms to provide local communities with fresh, nutritious produce. He joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the challenges of disrupting the farming industry to innovate the future of food.
They also discuss:
Why fruits and vegetables are now bred for logistics, not for flavor and nutrition.
How robotics and AI are being used to optimize yield, taste, and...2020-11-1132 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewUnderstanding the Enduring Consequences of Covid-19Azeem Azhar speaks with Yale Professor of Social and Natural Science, Internal Medicine & Biomedical Engineering, Nicholas Christakis, whose latest book “Apollo’s Arrow,” lays out the three phases of the world’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Christakis argues that each phase will be fraught with risk and will leave an enduring impact on our society, economy, and politics.
They also discuss:
How a successful vaccine will influence global geopolitics as a soft power.
How to deal with the pandemic on individual and community levels.
How the “Swiss Cheese model” of accident causation can help policymakers build resili...2020-11-0939 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewShould We End the Data Economy?Google and Facebook became multibillion-dollar juggernauts by stockpiling data and using it to sell advertising. Governments can now track their citizens en masse. Where will this “surveillance capitalism” lead?
Dr. Carissa Véliz from the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford joins Azeem Azhar to consider what’s wrong with the data economy, and to explore her bold proposals for ending it.
They also discuss:
Why Google’s founders were initially opposed to selling ads.
Why privacy legislation stalled after 9/11.
How personalized content fractures the public sphere.
How the Nazis used popu...2020-11-0436 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewFacebook’s Tech Chief: How We Built It and Where We’re GoingWhen Facebook’s Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer joined the company in 2008, it was about to hit 100 million users – today they serve 2.7 billion. He joins Azeem Azhar to explore how they planned for infrastructure resilience to cope with such explosive growth, and why Facebook has invested so deeply in AI and virtual reality.
They also discuss:
How Facebook increasingly uses AI systems to moderate content, including hate speech.
What Facebook is doing to address the need for greater diversity in its workforce and culture.
Why Facebook has committed to open source platforms such as PyTorch and Reac...2020-10-2844 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewDeepMind’s Journey from Games to Fundamental ScienceDemis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of DeepMind, dreams of using AI to solve fundamental problems in science. He joins Azeem Azhar to explore his own journey from world champion gamer to neuroscientist to building AI systems that can train themselves to solve real-world engineering challenges and, eventually, make Nobel-prize winning discoveries.
They also discuss:
Why games are the perfect training ground for AI algorithms.
How DeepMind combines the dynamism of a startup with the “blue sky” creativity of a lab.
Why “deep reinforcement learning” is the basis for artificial intelligence systems.
Further reading:
“How GPT-3 Is S...2020-10-2144 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHow Taiwan is Using Technology to Foster Democracy (with Digital Minister Audrey Tang)“Democracy is a technology. Like any […] technology, it gets better when more people strive to improve it,” says Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s first digital minister. Minister Tang joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how the Taiwanese Government is using the Internet as a space for civic participation, dialogue, and consensus building.
They also discuss:
How the open Internet helped Taiwan proactively tackle the Covid-19 outbreak at the beginning of the pandemic.
Algorithmic co-governance, and how it can keep social media platforms in check.
How the values of radical transparency and digital openness shape new forms of decision-making.
Furthe...2020-10-1441 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHow GPT-3 Is Shaping Our AI FutureOpenAI stunned the world with the release of Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3), the world’s most impressive language-generating AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joins Azeem Azhar to reflect on the huge attention generated by GPT-3 and what it heralds for the future research and development toward the creation of a true artificial general intelligence (AGI).
They also explore:
How AGI could be used both to reduce and exacerbate inequality.
How governance models need to change to address the growing power of technology companies.
How Altman’s experience leading Y Combinator informed his leadership of OpenAI.
Furthe...2020-10-0745 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSeason 4 Finale: Azeem’s Favorite Episodes and Trends to WatchAs we wrap up the season and head off to a short summer break, Azeem Azhar reflects on what he learned from his conversations with technology and business leaders like Microsoft’s Brad Smith, social activist Hilary Cottam, and historian David Runciman. Plus, he shares the trends he will keep his eye on across the summer. We’ll be back with Season 5 this fall.
Further reading:
“The Three Cleavages: Shaping the Post-Pandemic Order” (Exponential View, 2020)
“Preparing for 2020” (Exponential View, 2020)
@Azeem
@exponentialview
Exponential View newsletter
2020-07-0104 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewReimagining Capitalism for a Broken WorldMore than half of the world’s population believe capitalism is doing more harm than good. But is it beyond repair, or can it be fixed from within? Harvard Business School professor Rebecca Henderson joins Azeem Azhar to share her vision of purpose-driven capitalism, where companies can make good profits by doing the right thing.
They also explore:
Why strong government and civil society are fundamental for healthy capitalism.
Why highly-rated ESG companies have proved to be more profitable and resilient.
The flaw in relying on a few philanthropists to fund public services.
Further reading:...2020-06-2439 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewEngineering Biology: The Next FrontierThe increasing capabilities of computing have changed biology from a realm dominated by scientific discovery to one that intersects with engineering and innovation. Vijay Pande, a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the emergence of this novel industry at the interface of technology and biology.
They also discuss:
The most promising technologies to combat Covid-19 that are being tested.
Why next-gen biotech companies look increasingly like tech startups.
Why our long-term health depends on regulators and society engaging with this tech.
Further reading:
“The Next Trillion Dollar Market” (Exponential View podc...2020-06-1738 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewRethinking the Innovation EcosystemStarting a company with a stranger is not the traditional path for many entrepreneurs, but this is one of the basic principles of Entrepreneur First (EF), the world’s leading talent investor. Matt Clifford, EF’s CEO and co-founder, joins Azeem Azhar to explain why he invests in founders before they have a business idea and other novel approaches to venture capital and innovation.
They also discuss:
The idea of the “venture customer” as a key player in the innovation ecosystem.
Why Europe might have the edge when it comes to the next generation of startups.
The exam...2020-06-1042 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewUsing AI to Decentralize OrganizationsOperating a company with no managers, where everyone chooses their work, salary, and holiday entitlement may sound like chaos. But Daniel Hulme, CEO of Satalia, and his team of 250 people are making it productive. Daniel joins Azeem Azhar to discuss what a company that runs as a decentralize swarm looks like in practice.
They discuss:
The role of artificial intelligence and open innovation in a swarm organization.
How a decentralized business creates accountability to ensure strong output.
The potential for the model to scale to larger organizations, and even countries.
Further reading:
“Swarm Intelligence: Ho...2020-06-0337 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewEmpowering Workers in the Digital FutureCompanies increasingly use digital systems to hire, fire, and monitor their employees. But who is keeping employers in check? Former director at the service workers union, UNI Global, and one of the most influential thinkers in the ethics of AI, Dr. Christina Colclough joins Azeem Azhar to explore how to ensure that the increasingly digital workplace of the near future protects workers.
They also discuss:
How Covid-19 has affected the most vulnerable members of the global workforce.
How management by algorithm erodes trust in the workplace.
Why trade unions should employ data analysts and digital experts.
2020-05-2741 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBuilding Better Cities After Covid-19Cities drive prosperity. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, they also have become crucibles of disease. Sameh Wahba, the World Bank’s Global Director of Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience, and Land, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how the World Bank partners with technologists to help cities on the frontline of the pandemic, and how the dynamism of urban density can be harnessed to build livable and inclusive cities of the future.
They also address:
Why the inexorable trend towards urbanization will not be stopped by Covid-19.
Why more densely populated cities are not necessarily the worst af...2020-05-2041 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewFei-Fei Li’s Mission to Transform Healthcare AIAfter ImageNet transformed AI vision, superstar Stanford computer science professor Fei-Fei Li has turned her attention to advancing healthcare. Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, is leading the next generation of interdisciplinary technologists.
She joins Azeem Azhar to explore her journey from pioneering AI vision to her current focus on healthcare, and to discuss the need to craft AI systems that enhance human flourishing.
They also discuss:
How AI technologies could support the isolated and elderly during the pandemic.
Why machine values must mirror human values, and how to embed that co...2020-05-1335 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHow Nasdaq is Growing the World’s Digital MarketplaceNasdaq has evolved from being the world’s first digital marketplace to a global technology company. CEO Adena Friedman joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how their digital operation has become the model for markets around the world, the surprising importance of regulation as a driver of innovation, and how Nasdaq prepared to keep functioning during the pandemic lockdown.
They also discuss:
The infrastructure that allows Nasdaq to reliably maintain data rates thousands of times faster than the internet and traffic volumes many times higher than Google searches.
How smart regulation played a vital role in the ev...2020-05-0637 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Digital Future of the Supply ChainGlobal supply chains are efficient, but fragile. How can we make them more robust, flexible, and sustainable? Pamela Mar, EVP for Knowledge and Applications at the Fung Group, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the technological and economic changes needed to improve these vital networks of production and distribution.
They discuss:
The lessons about mass production and specialization we’re learning with the Covid-19 crisis.
How digitization can build trust along the supply chain.
Why automation is an opportunity to move from mass production to mass customization.
Further reading:
“Reinventing Fashion” (Chatham House Panel Discussion, 2018)
“Meet the...2020-04-2933 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewLessons for an Aging WorldFor the first time in history, there are more people on the planet over 65 years old, than under five. How do we adapt to this demographic transformation? Camilla Cavendish, award-winning journalist and former Director of Public Policy for UK Prime Minister David Cameron, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the immense cost and new potential of this brave old world.
They discuss:
The huge wealth gap opening up between older and younger people.
What we can learn from the Okinawan concept of “ikigai” or “life purpose”.
Why meaningful relationships are the single most important factor in long-term wellbein...2020-04-2734 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe New Science of AgingWe have long assumed aging is inevitable, but is it? Professor David Sinclair, founder of the Sinclair Lab at Harvard’s Medical School and author of the bestselling “Lifespan: Why We Age — and Why We Don’t Have To,” joins Azeem Azhar to discuss emerging research that promises to radically slow down aging.
Their conversation covers:
What the Information Theory of Aging is and how it shifts the paradigm on biomarkers of aging.
Why periodically stressing your body can promote health and longevity.
Which supplements might arrest the three biochemical pathways implicated in aging.
Further reading:2020-04-2247 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewNavigating Covid-19 in a Digital Republic (with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid)In Estonia, the only public service not available online is marriage. Dubbed the “digital republic”, Estonia has the most advanced e-government in the world and nurtures a vibrant start-up community. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia, joins Azeem Azhar to explore how legal and technological innovations have helped to build e-Estonia, and how this digital republic is navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.
They explore:
How Covid-19 could accelerate technology development and implementation.
How Estonia has achieved astonishing transparency and privacy in digital government.
How Estonia combats constant cyber threats.
Further reading:
“Estonia, the Digital Republic” (New Yorker...2020-04-2038 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Drive to DecarbonizeClean energy is now cheaper than coal, and its uptake is accelerating. But can we get to zero emissions in time? Investor and technologist Ramez Naam joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how technological innovation and economies of scale are accelerating us towards a zero-carbon future, as well as the major challenges that remain.
They also cover:
The virtuous cycle that drove the falling price of clean energy.
How the Covid-19 pandemic could be an opportunity for massive government investment in clean energy infrastructure.
Three strategies to overcome the renewable energy storage problem.
Why industrial production of...2020-04-1540 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewInside Alphabet’s X: Nurturing Radical CreativityX, Alphabet Inc.’s “moonshot factory,” dares to solve big problems with breakthrough technologies. Most of their projects fail. But some — like self-driving cars and the AI that powers Google — are already changing the world. CEO Astro Teller joins Azeem Azhar to explain how he built a culture of radical creativity, where employees are encouraged to dream — and to fail — big.
In this episode they explore:
Why allowing the right amount of chaos is vital for flourishing creativity.
The five basic principles at the heart of X.
Why innovation dies if only success is rewarded.
What inspiration As...2020-04-0838 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Next Trillion-Dollar MarketBiotech is gathering pace: AI systems are simulating novel materials, new genomic technologies are enabling precision bioengineering, and automation is executing production on a massive scale. Softbank Vision Fund Senior Managing Partner, Deep Nishar tells Azeem Azhar why biotech is the next trillion-dollar market, and what breakthroughs to expect.
In this episode they also discuss:
Why emerging biotech and AI, together, would help control and stop coronavirus-like outbreaks in the future.
What new materials and medicines are coming out of the “virtuous cycle” of research and funding that is now taking off.
What the rest of the wor...2020-04-0138 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewTechnology Companies and the New RecessionThe world is facing an economic crisis never seen before, says equity analyst Pierre Ferragu. Consumer demand remains strong and supply infrastructure is still healthy, but both are in lockdown and unable to function. In this wide-ranging conversation with Azeem Azhar, Ferragu explains how the pandemic will affect the technology industry and its major players.
They also discuss:
How “partial insuring” and “China + n” strategies could make for more resilient supply chains.
How the crisis is accelerating the next generation of technologies.
The winners and the losers of the pandemic.
Further reading:
“Tesla has yet anothe...2020-03-3035 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewScience Fights the CoronavirusThe exponential growth of COVID-19 is threatening to bring down the world economy. To understand the pandemic, Azeem Azhar chats with professor Yaneer Bar-Yam, President of the New England Complex Systems Institute, who worked on the response to Ebola with pioneering complex-systems mathematics.
In this conversation, they discuss:
Why we need to crush, rather than flatten, the curve.
What lessons the Ebola outbreak offers us for dealing with COVID-19.
What complexity mathematics offers beyond traditional epidemiological modelling.
Further reading:
“A Better Way: Building Capacity, Adaptation and Resilience” (Exponential View, 2020)
End Coronavirus: Map, Guidelines, Community (2020)
“Corona...2020-03-2440 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Redecentralized WebData monopolies and abuses of privacy are only some of the flaws of Web 2.0. Muneeb Ali, co-founder and CEO of Blockstack, tells Azeem Azhar how the emerging Web 3.0 solves these challenges and gives users more control over their digital existence.
In this conversation, they discuss:
Why property rights and privacy are intimately linked.
The emergence of a novel app ecosystem on the new internet.
The role of the new crypto economy in the transformation of the internet.
Further reading:
“Tech Thinks It Has a Fix for the Problem it Created: Blockchain” (The New York Time...2020-03-1834 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewWelfare in the Exponential AgeExisting social institutions are not adequate to meet the challenges of the exponential age. Social entrepreneur and author, Hilary Cottam, proposes a radical overhaul of the welfare system. In discussion with Azeem Azhar, she also argues that we must reject the old economic model for humanity, Homo econonomicus (guided by ration to maximize economic gains), and embrace Sapiens integra, a new theoretical human with stronger connections to nature and other humans.
In this conversation, they discuss:
The New Industrialists and their role in the social revolution.
How a switch from the mindset of efficiency to the...2020-03-1134 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHow Humans Judge Machines“People judge humans by their intentions, and machines by the outcome,” says physicist and author Cesar Hidalgo. He is one of the creators of the field of Complexity Economics. Hidalgo joins Azeem Azhar to explain how he applies this complexity approach to understanding how we judge decision-making in machines.
They also discuss:
What the Shenzhen electronics market reveals about the economics of megacities.
How we unconsciously ascribe morality to machines, and what this implies for innovation.
Algorithmic aversion and how it will influence the implementation of AI.
Further reading:
“A Bold Idea to Replace Politi...2020-03-0442 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewCan Airtable Democratize Software Development?Airtable, valued at $1.1 billion, is carving out a new product category that could compete with cloud computing in value. The founder of Airtable, Howie Liu, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss what creating a new market category looks like in practice.
They also discuss:
How Airtable is democratizing software development.
Why investors were initially skeptical, and how Howie got them on board.
How Airtable treats its competition, including the tech giants.
Further reading:
“Move Slow and Make Things: Airtable’s Howie Liu Built A $1B Software Giant Emphasizing Substance Over Speed” (Forbes, 2018)
“No-one understood our idea, bu...2020-02-2630 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewGeopolitics, Technology, and RiskSome would argue that the world is more volatile today than it was during the Cold War, and technology is catalyzing a number of fundamental changes to the world order. Geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer joins Azeem Azhar to dissect the top risks for the decade ahead.
They also discuss:
How technology is influencing global decoupling.
How the China-U.S. relationship will shape the world in the next decade.
How we should think about global challenges in a multipolar world.
Further reading:
“Top Risks for 2020” (Eurasia Group, Jan. 6, 2020)
“Preparing for 2030” (Exponential View, Jan. 5, 2020)
“Predictions for 2030” (Talking Poli...2020-02-1942 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSurviving a Crisis During the TechlashCrisis management is not only about cleaning up after a disaster, but also about establishing a healthy company culture. Judy Smith, renowned crisis management expert, joins Azeem Azhar to explore why large tech companies seem to stumble into crises as they mature, and what every founder can do to avoid catastrophic reputation damage.
They also discuss:
Why corporate culture is the most important element of good reputation management.
How to navigate a crisis while focusing on growth.
How to communicate controversial issues to different stakeholders.
Further reading:
“Managing High-Stakes Situations: 5 Lessons from the Pentagon” (HBR...2020-02-1232 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewLeading a Technology Giant During the TechlashMicrosoft’s president, Brad Smith, argues for multilateral cooperation across borders and sectors in order to advance the regulatory framework for technology companies. In this conversation, he joins Azeem Azhar to discuss:
Why regulation is necessary to advance innovation.
How to maintain greater purpose at a company’s core while scaling.
Why employees organizing is a positive force in every company.
The case against the facial recognition ban.
Further reading:
“Tools and Weapons: The Promise and Peril of the Digital Age” (Brad Smith, 2019)
“The Real Reason Tech Companies Want Regulation” (Exponential View newsletter, Jan. 26, 2020)
“Thinking About Innovation” (E...2020-02-0535 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSuperintelligence Already Rules the WorldArtificial decision-making machines have been with us for hundreds of years. We call them corporations and states, and they have hugely accelerated the development of our societies. That’s the argument David Runciman makes in conversation with Azeem Azhar in this week’s episode. Runciman is professor of politics at Cambridge University and host of the “Talking Politics” podcast. He and Azeem discuss what this reframing of artificial intelligence can teach us about navigating the hurdles it presents.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
How the current dynamics between private enterprises and states will shape the future o...2020-01-2239 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBuilding Unicorns in EuropeSeedcamp has backed close to 400 European startups at the seed stage. The fund’s co-founder and managing partner Reshma Sohoni joins Azeem Azhar to discuss what it takes to build a thriving startup ecosystem outside Silicon Valley, and how some of Europe’s most successful startups were created.
In this episode, they also discuss:
The “next big thing” from an investor’s perspective.
How regulators use “sandboxes” to help entrepreneurs innovate.
How the cultural diversity of Europe benefits both investors and founders.
Further reading:
“2020 Vision: predictions from 28 big-hitters in Europe’s startup scene” (Sifted, Dec. 16, 2019)
“Why...2019-12-1834 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe State of NanotechnologyNanotechnology has long been hailed as a means of eradicating diseases and delivering other healthcare solutions. University of Oxford professor Sonia Contera, a nanotechnology pioneer, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how scientific and technological developments in her field are bringing about another tech revolution that will change our lives.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
Which nanotechnology applications are already available in healthcare and materials engineering.
How machine learning and AI are crucial in the new era of nanotechnology.
How advances in biological physics are reshaping our understanding of life.
Further reading:
“Structurally designed DN...2019-12-1131 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewCybersecurity in the Age of AIAI is reshaping the landscape of cyber defense. As new security fissures open up, threat analysts deploy more powerful tools to prevent and respond to attacks. Nicole Eagan, CEO of Darktrace, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the escalating arms race in this new cybersecurity landscape.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
What security experts can learn from the human immune system response.
Why trust in automated decision-making technology is a crucial step in implementing AI-first security systems.
How a parked Tesla in your company parking lot can be a security flaw for the entire organization.
...2019-12-0427 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewGrowth and the Energy Transition with Vaclav SmilFor the first time in history, we have to tackle a truly global problem: climate breakdown. Energy transition away from fossil fuels is imperative, but there is no consensus on how to achieve this. The preeminent expert on energy history and development, Vaclav Smil, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the limits of renewables, the consequences of megacities, and why waste reduction is a game-changer.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
Whether the massive amounts of information we gather today has purpose.
What possibilities Moore’s Law predicts for biology and chemistry.
The limits of nuclear power.
...2019-11-2736 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewAI, Accountability, and PowerIn November 2018 mass protests by Google workers drew attention to deep problems with bias and discrimination at some of the largest Silicon Valley companies. Meredith Whittaker, co-director of the AI Now Institute and one of the organizers of the Google Walkout, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how technology workers can influence progress in culture and technology.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
How discriminatory culture influences the values embedded in AI.
Whether ethics officers can actually influence firms and their products.
Why responsible AI design must include recognition of the shadow workforce helping to create it.
2019-11-2030 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewTechnology and the New World of WorkThe nature of work is undergoing tremendous changes, influenced by aging populations, the digital revolution, and a paradigm shift away from Fordism. Laetitia Vitaud, author of “Du Labeur à l’ouvrage (From Labour to Work),” and Azeem Azhar discuss how the reinvention of craftsmanship is creating a new deal to ensure more equitable, sustainable, and fulfilling jobs.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
How Silicon Valley is bringing back the values of craftsmanship.
What the single most important skill in the new world of work is.
Why the jobs of tomorrow will largely be in proximity services.
Furth...2019-11-1335 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHow Free-Market Economists Got It WrongThe late 1960s saw a revolution in public policy, as economists began to play an important role in shaping politics. On the wings of ideas popularized by Milton Friedman and other economists, the world was forever changed by free markets, dominant corporations, and stakeholder capitalism. Azeem Azhar discusses this with New York Times editorial writer and author Binyamin Appelbaum, whose recent book, “The Economists’ Hour,” is a deep dive into the history of ideas that formed capitalism, as we know it.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
Why supply-side economists were able to drive home their ideolo...2019-11-0636 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBeyond Deep Learning with Gary MarcusGary Marcus is well known as a deep learning critic. A neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and the author of “Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust,” Marcus believes that researchers need to move past deep learning in order to make true advances in machine intelligence. Marcus and Azeem Azhar discuss why, how, and when we can expect progress.
In this podcast, they also discuss:
What newborn ibexes can teach us about intelligence and learning.
How deep learning widens the gap between big companies and startups.
What we need for a breakthrough in AI.
Further reading:
“How to...2019-10-3036 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewAI and the Future of WarfareIn our rapidly changing world, peace is increasingly fragile. The only way to ensure we keep it and foster it around the world is to educate citizens to become its resilient stewards. General Sir Richard Barrons is the former Commander of the UK’s Joint Forces Command, and he joins Azeem Azhar to discuss why the definition of warfare is changing with the development of technology and why our society’s resilience in the face of threats to peace must be founded on education.
In this episode, they also discuss:
What societal resilience is, and how it c...2019-10-2339 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBubbles, Golden Ages, and Tech RevolutionsHow do we exploit the technological revolution for green growth and global development? Celebrated economist, author, and scholar, Carlota Perez joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the nature of techno-economic paradigm shifts and current progress in the cycle of technological revolution. Perez is the author of one of the most influential books on the subject, “Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital.”
In this podcast, Carlota and Azeem also discuss:
The new welfare state.
How universal basic income could increase innovation.
If we’re on the verge of a new Golden Age.
Further reading:
“Technological Revolutions and Financia...2019-10-1639 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewCreating an AI-First Business with Andrew NgArtificial General Intelligence won’t be with us for at least another 100 years, but former Baidu chief scientist and Google Brain cofounder Andrew Ng argues that AI will radically alter most industries within the coming decades. Ng joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the progress of AI and how it’s altering businesses and the future of work.
They also discuss:
How billionaires decide to invest in overly ambitious and unrealistic ideas.
What makes a company an AI-first business.
Why you shouldn’t start with strategy first when implementing AI into your business.
Further reading:
“How to C...2019-10-0934 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewTony Blair: Governing in the Age of AIIf the UK’s former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was in the government today, he says that he would mobilize his whole office around the technology revolution. Tony Blair and Azeem Azhar discuss why the tech leaders must collaborate with policy makers — whether they want to or not — and why regulating big technology is only a small part of the solution.
In this podcast, Tony and Azeem also discuss:
Why Silicon Valley needs to share societal responsibility with the public sector
How the government needs to change to be at the forefront of the technology revolution
How th...2019-10-0233 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewEngineering BiologyEngineering biology holds the key to improving the lives of people across the world. It promises solutions to disease, food production, and pollution amongst other deep-seated problems. But this engineering is immensely difficult. CEO of LabGenius James Field, partner at NFX Gigi Levy-Weiss, partner at the investment firm Episode 1 Carina Namih, and science writer Oliver Morton come together to discuss the merging field of bioengineering.
Carina, James, Gigi, and Oliver also discuss:
How machine learning is improving life sciences and healthcare.
Experiences of fundraising and hiring for biology companies in the UK and the U.S.
...2019-08-1423 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewGovernance in the Age of AIArtificial intelligence is a powerful technology with capabilities that are open to use by state and non-state actors. In this conversation Azeem Azhar, De Kai, and Joanna Bryson discuss how governance should adapt as our institutions are challenged by unintended consequences of the technology and its creators.
Joanna, De Kai, and Azeem also discuss:
Why rule-based systems fall short of protecting us against the unintended consequences of technology.
The value of cross-cultural dialogue in establishing common values to guide the governance of AI globally.
The role of the leading technology companies in regulating the industry.
...2019-08-1424 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewDisrupting the Insurance Industry with AI“At a fundamental level, insurance is a social good. It’s about a community of people pooling their resources to help the weakest members in their hour of need. That should be the most loved industry, but it’s 180 degrees away from that,” says Daniel Schreiber, the cofounder and CEO of the InsureTech startup Lemonade, in conversation with Azeem Azhar.
Daniel and Azeem also discuss:
How insurance is a business of probability theory, which is why the sector as a whole will only get more susceptible to transformations through AI, big data, and machine learning.
Why the corp...2019-08-1431 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBeneficial Artificial IntelligenceIn 2015, computer scientist and AI pioneer, Stuart Russell, became the first signatory of an open letter calling on researchers to ensure “that increasingly capable AI systems are robust and beneficial.” Stuart joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the possible AI futures and how to ensure technology serves the good of humanity.
Stuart and Azeem also discuss:
The nature of intelligence and re-creating intelligence in machines
Algorithmic fairness and regulating AI
Embodied intelligence
Using AI to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Further reading:
Stuart Russell, “The Long-Term Future of AI” (Berkeley)
“Moral technology” (Aeon, March 21, 2019)
“Concerns of an...2019-06-2647 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSurveillance CapitalismShoshana Zuboff coined the term “surveillance capitalism” to describe the new way companies claim private human experience as products. Shoshana joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the emergence of surveillance capitalism, its pernicious and beneficial aspects, and the future for human autonomy and agency.
Shoshana and Azeem also discuss:
The evolution of the first surveillance capitalist.
The economics of scale, scope, and action as forms of harm.
How we can safeguard the beneficial aspects of technology, while preventing its covert use by surveillance capitalists.
Further reading:
“The Secrets of Surveillance Capitalism” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, March 2016)
“Beyond Sur...2019-06-1933 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewAI’s Near FutureFor Jürgen Schmidhuber, a recognized pioneer in AI, artificial intelligence is much more than another technological revolution. He sees it as the opportunity to transcend humanity and biology. In this conversation, Jürgen and Azeem Azhar discuss what the next thirty years of AI will look like.
Jürgen and Azeem also discuss:
The role of Long Short-Term Memory architecture in recent AI breakthroughs.
Why the next AI wave will see machines actively shaping the data that they perceive.
The second- and third-order consequences of bringing these more sophisticated artificial neural networks into our world.
F...2019-06-1229 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Autonomous EconomyOne of the founders of complexity economics, W. Brian Arthur, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how artificial intelligence is ushering us into the age of the autonomous economy with radical implications for our society.
In this podcast, Brian and Azeem also discuss:
Why the decision-making ability of AI will have a different class of impact on the economy than previous ‘landmark’ technologies like the printing press.
Whether it is possible to have publicly available decision-making enabled by artificial intelligence outside the proprietary enclaves of Silicon Valley monopolies.
Increasing Returns Theory and how to generate good governance in a...2019-06-0532 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewDisrupting FinanceArtificial intelligence is unlocking new value in the banking and finance industry, but incumbents are struggling to keep pace. Azeem Azhar discusses what this means for the industry and its customers with Citi Research’s Global Sector Head for Banks Ronit Ghose, and the founder-CEOs of two leading innovators: Daniel Schreiber of Lemonade Insurance and Rishi Khosla of OakNorth Bank.
Paul and Azeem also discuss:
The huge role technology debt plays in obstructing legacy banks from innovating.
How social networks, the smartphone, and AI grew exponentially and converged to mount a challenge to the traditional banking in...2019-05-2942 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewEmbedding AI in BusinessAI is the fastest-growing industry that Accenture’s CTIO Paul Daugherty has ever experienced. He joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how AI can help businesses across a broad range of industries enhance the value they offer customers. Paul’s 2018 bestselling book Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI laid the foundations for companies that want to harness AI to help innovate and grow quickly.
Paul and Azeem also discuss:
AI as a general-purpose technology and how to set priorities for its application.
How critical it is to have data at the heart of your busi...2019-05-2236 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Truth About AutonomyDirector of the Humans and Autonomy Lab at Duke University and one of the first female fighter pilots, professor Missy Cummings debates the current state of autonomy with Azeem Azhar. Taking a stance of techno-realism, Missy explains why we’re not even close to developing Level 5 autonomy in driving and why robotic surgery is still not safe.
In this podcast, Missy and Azeem also discuss:
The nonlinear upward movement across levels of automation. While early developments may take similar amounts of time and money, the final advancements demand exponentially more.
The psychology behind why we will al...2019-05-1538 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewAI and the Genetic RevolutionMichigan State University senior vice president Stephen Hsu, a theoretical physicist and the founder of Genomic Prediction, demonstrates how the machine learning revolution, combined with the dramatic fall in the cost of human genome sequencing, is driving a transformation in our relationship with our genes. Stephen and Azeem Azhar explore how the technology works, what predictions can and cannot yet be made (and why), and the ethical challenges created by this technology.
In this podcast, Azeem and Stephen also discuss:
FDA approval of the first genetic treatment for monogenic conditions and the work towards developing treatments...2019-05-0836 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewWhen AI Meets MedicineWith healthcare under extreme commercial and political pressure, the doctor-patient relationship is at a low point — and risks further deterioration. But digital technologies promise to revolutionize the daily delivery of care. Renowned digital medicine pioneer Dr. Eric Topol and Azeem Azhar discuss what this could mean for medical professionals, patients, and national healthcare systems.
In this podcast, Eric and Azeem also discuss:
Issues of access: equality of access and coping with differential patient capability when participating in digital therapeutics.
The impact of GDPR on the need for ‘explainable AI’ in medicine.
Algorithmic surveillance and whether the tradit...2019-05-0133 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Innovation Economy“We haven’t really understood the power of the state,” argues economist Mariana Mazzucato, warning that this has impacted the rising inequality in wealth creation and distribution. Mariana and Azeem Azhar discuss the role of government in innovation and business growth, risk-taking as the new mentality of bureaucracy, and how the benefits of entrepreneurial innovation have been misread. Above all, the case is made for a new theory of value in today’s economy.
In this conversation, Mariana and Azeem also discuss:
The role of the entrepreneurial state: moving away from the concept of the state as a fac...2019-04-2430 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewCreating the Data EconomyOur society has become increasingly reliant on data, but its value is not accessible to all. Of the 16 billion terabytes of data created globally in 2016, only 1% was analyzed. Among other discrepancies, the growing data monopolies concentrate power over certain technologies such as artificial intelligence precluding their positive impact on society.
Trent McConaghy, AI researcher and the founder of the decentralized data exchange, Ocean Protocol, is aiming to solve this by enabling individuals and organizations to share, monetize, and access data.
In this conversation, Trent and Azeem Azhar discuss:
The real-world impact of deep learning...2019-04-1732 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewDesigning Responsible AI“Intelligence is central to everything humans do, and artificial intelligence should be no exception.” With these words, Joanna Bryson urges for stronger professional standards for software engineers and experts designing intelligent-like systems.
Joanna is a tenured associate professor at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, where she founded the Bath Intelligence Systems group. She is one of the world’s leading AI researchers, uniting the perspectives of computer science, psychology, and biology in her work.
In this podcast, Azeem Azhar and Joanna explore:
The role of goals in conceptualizing and programming intelligence system...2019-04-1031 minAzeem Azhar's Exponential ViewInvesting in Disruptive InnovationIn the late 1800’s, three innovation platforms shaped the world as we know it today: the telephone, electricity, and the internal combustion engine. Today, five powerful innovation platforms are accelerating at the same time: DNA sequencing, robotics, energy storage, deep learning, and blockchain technology.
Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO of ArkInvest, is leading the way in investing in disruptive technologies at a time when many investors are holding back due to uncertainty. Azeem Azhar and Cathie discuss the multi-trillion-dollar opportunity in exponentially-developing industries, the role of incumbents, and how investors can shift gears to find comfort in ri...2019-04-0336 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewTechnology Diffusion and the Rise of AsiaParag Khanna is a leading international relations expert and the author of The Future Is Asian: Commerce, Conflict and Culture in the 21st Century.
Azeem Azhar and Parag discuss the law of technology diffusion, break common myths about Asia’s development, and question whether the future belongs to cities or nation-states.
www.exponentialview.co
2019-02-0734 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewOvercoming the Epistemic CrisisElif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish author and human rights activist. She has published 16 books, 10 of which are novels. The New York Review of Books called her latest novel, Three Daughters of Eve, a “marvelous lesson in multiculturalist angst, the clash between modernity and tradition, and the vicissitudes of personal struggle.”
Elif and Azeem Azhar discuss the polarization of culture springing out of the foundations of the open internet, and the ways to tackle the pervasive issues in today’s digital technology sphere.
www.exponentialview.co
2019-01-3126 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewRegulating the CyberspaceMarietje Schaake is a Dutch politician and member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Netherlands. The Wall Street Journal called her “Europe’s most wired politician,” and Politico named her the “ultimate digital MEP.” Marietje is a member of the Committee on International Trade and the vice chair of the Delegation for Relations with the U.S. She established a Digital Agenda intergroup, gathering members of the Parliament who are interested in addressing the future of digital technologies.
Marietje and Azeem Azhar discuss the governance of cyberspace, the responsibility of technology companies, and the new era of geopoli...2019-01-2437 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewMaking Sense of the Data-Rich World with Graph DatabasesEmil Eifrem is the CEO and cofounder of Neo4j, the graph database platform powering some of the largest companies today. Emil is the creator of the property graph model, and he coined the term “graph database” to describe the technology that would change how we understand big data. Neo4j’s technology was used to reveal the rogue offshore financial relationships in the largest journalist leak ever, the Panama Papers.
www.exponentialview.co
2019-01-1751 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe State of Artificial IntelligenceJack Clark serves as the policy director at OpenAI. He has contributed to the development of the AI Index, an AI forecasting and progress initiative that is part of the Stanford One Hundred Year Study on AI.
Azeem Azhar and Jack discuss the state of artificial intelligence development, the geopolitics of technology, and the implications of automation on society.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-12-271h 00
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewQuantified Self, Data Ownership, and the Sociological Approach to TechnologyGina Neff is a senior research fellow and associate professor at the University of Oxford. She studies innovation, the digital transformation of industries, and how new technologies impact work. Gina has published three books: Self-Tracking in 2016, Surviving the New Economy in 2015, and Venture Labor in 2012.
Gina and Azeem Azhar discuss technology development from a sociological perspective, as well as the implications of self-tracking for the individual and society.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-12-2039 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewRenewable Energy, Climate Change, and TechnologyMichael Liebreich is a leading global expert on clean energy and transportation, smart infrastructure, technology, climate finance, and sustainable development. He founded New Energy Finance in 2004, which was acquired by Bloomberg in 2009.
Michael and Azeem Azhar discuss the significance of the U.S. National Climate Assessment and IPCC’s report, the importance of staying below two degrees, and the role of exponential technologies in transitioning to renewables.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-12-1357 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewDiplomacy in the Tech AgeCasper Klynge is the world’s first tech ambassador, with a global mandate and staff in Copenhagen, Silicon Valley, and Beijing. His appointment as the Danish tech ambassador in 2017 marked a new phase in diplomacy and international relations, and was the first time a nation-state deployed an ambassador to represent its citizens to the world’s most powerful technology companies.
Casper and Azeem Azhar assess the current alignment between some of the largest technology companies and nation-states, and discuss the role of technology in fostering democracy and innovation.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-12-061h 01
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewDoughnut Economics, Rethinking Economics for the 21st CenturyKate Raworth is a senior visiting research associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, where she teaches environmental change and management. She is also a senior associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Kate is focused on exploring the economic mindset needed to address the 21st century’s social and ecological challenges.
Kate and Azeem discuss the Doughnut economics framework as the essence of rethinking economics for a world inhabited by 10 billion people and hit by climate change and social justice struggles. Kate sets a vision for an equitable and sustainable future.
www.expo...2018-11-2854 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewSpace Innovation and Fixing the EarthAnousheh Ansari is the world’s first female private space explorer and the first Iranian astronaut in space. She is the CEO of XPrize Foundation, an organization that supports radical breakthrough solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing humanity today.
Azeem Azhar and Anousheh discuss the ways space development could help us tackle climate change and pollution and achieve sustainable crypto mining. Anousheh shares about her journey to become a space explorer and her time at the International Space Station, as well as her role as the CEO of XPrize.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-11-2145 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Future of Public Service and GovernanceLisa Witter is an award-winning executive, a serial entrepreneur, and the cofounder and executive chairman of Apolitical, a network that helps public servants around the world share inspiring ideas, solutions to challenges, and the best professional resources and opportunities.
Azeem and Lisa discuss reviving trust in government, the road map for building the public service workforce of the future, and the role of agile in governance.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-11-1434 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Future of Work and Democracy in the Information AgeMatthew Taylor is the chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, a UK organization committed to finding practical solutions to societal problems. Before leading the RSA, Matthew was the chief adviser on political strategy to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Azeem and Matthew Taylor discuss the well-being economy, the meaning of good work in an age of automation, and the state of democracy.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-11-0749 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewUBI, Automation, and Society in the U.S.Azeem Azhar speaks with Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur and author who is running for president in the 2020 U.S. election. At the heart of Andrew’s platform is the “freedom dividend,” a universal basic income of $1,000, payable to all Americans every month.
Azeem and Andrew discuss the core ideas behind Andrew’s platform, why they are necessary, and how to get there.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-10-3154 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewThe Challenging Political Economy of Silicon ValleyAzeem speaks with Reid Hoffman, “the sage of Silicon Valley.” Reid is an internet entrepreneur, executive, and investor best known as the cofounder of LinkedIn.
Reid and Azeem discuss the business culture of Silicon Valley, in particular the concept of “blitzscaling.” They dive deep into Silicon Valley’s attitudes toward government, the role of the state in innovation, and maintaining techno-optimism.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-10-2554 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewScaling InnovationAzeem Azhar speaks with entrepreneur and investor Elad Gil about Silicon Valley, scaling companies from 10 to 10,000 employees, the state of blockchain, and how blockchain and artificial intelligence will overlap. Elad is a serial entrepreneur, an operating executive, an investor, and an adviser to private companies including Airbnb, Pinterest, Square, and Stripe. Elad was the VP of corporate strategy at Twitter, and previously was on the mobile team at Google.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-10-1843 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewAI, Warfare, and Global SecurityAzeem Azhar speaks with Dr. Mariarosaria Taddeo, deputy director of the Digital Ethics Lab at the Oxford Internet Institute. Dr. Taddeo is a philosopher, an ethicist, and a researcher focusing on cyber conflicts, cybersecurity, and the ethics of data science. Cyber attacks are escalating in frequency, sophistication, and impact.
Azeem and Dr. Taddeo unpack the state of cybersecurity and warfare, the complex symbiosis between governments and criminal actors, and the ways digital technologies are changing cyber warfare.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-10-1153 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewEntrepreneurs, the Market, and the StateAzeem Azhar speaks with venture capitalist Bill Janeway about the three-player game between the mission-driven state, financial speculators, and markets in the innovation economy. Are we stuck on the dark side of this configuration? How do we move forward?
www.exponentialview.co
2018-10-041h 00
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewChina, an AI SuperpowerAzeem Azhar speaks with Kai-Fu Lee, a VC investor, technology executive, and one of the most prominent figures in the Chinese internet sector and AI. They discuss the Chinese government’s techno-utilitarian approach to technology, the ambition of China’s technology founders, and the future of job automation.
www.exponentialview.co
2018-09-2751 min
Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewHacking DemocracyA recording of an Exponential View salon held in London in May 2017.
“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter,” said Winston Churchill.
But whatever you think of it, democracy has served us well. An increase in democracy is almost always matched by an increase in GDP.
According to MIT economist Daron Acemoglu, a country that switches from autocracy to democracy achieves about 20% higher GDP per capita over roughly a 30-year period.
Yet data from the end of 2016 suggests that in several advanced economies, including the U.S...2017-06-031h 37