Possible

How many lives will be saved with the help of AI over the next decade? Reid and Aria sat down with Bill Gates to discuss his main areas of focus: climate change, energy, global health, and education—and how AI will help transform each of them. Taking a bird’s-eye view of society’s challenges, it’s easy to give in to pessimism. But as one of the most influential people in the world, Bill Gates has a unique perspective on how far humanity has come and what our potential—and timelines—for meaningful change really look like. He gets granular on everything from cows (5% of global emissions) to disease reduction and eradication (Guinea worm disease). At each turn, he has data at his fingertips to ground his beliefs. So, what current set of innovations is Bill most excited about? And what is realistically on the horizon for AI, climate change, energy, global health, and education? For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 03:18 - Hellos and intros 03:24 - Projects Bill is most excited about 05:46 - Bill’s recent Netflix series 08:14 - Technology that will change what’s possible 10:41 - Solutions for malnutrition 12:09 - Cow-based solutions for climate change and nutrition 17:06 - What Bill is working toward for climate change 19:19 - Viable alternative energy sources 23:80 - What will make solar work? 26:47 - Nuclear fission and fusion 29:30 - How AI will help mitigate climate change 32:38 - What to focus on in global health 37:24 - AI and drug discovery 39:52 - What else will AI unlock in public health? 42:28 - Personalized medicine: is it worth it? 44:02 - Conditions on the ground in the poorest countries 47:29 - AI in education 51:24 - Khanmigo and early GPT-4 54:59 - Non-tech levers for change in education 56:34 - What would Bill ask someone from 2100? 58:25 - AI in 3-5 years, and what comes next for work 01:03:05 - Rapid-fire Questions Select mentions:  The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Nature  What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xxhYr4gbQE  Bill Gates Visits First Avenue School: Commends Innovative Use of Technology https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/schools/first-avenue-school/bill-gates-visits-first-avenue-school-commends-innovative-use-of-technology/  Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

What does productive collaboration between big tech developers and the rest of the world actually look like? This week, Reid gets into the value of competition, iterative development, learning mindsets, and red teaming in tech and business—in the United States and globally.   For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How can people in all corners of the world participate in the AI revolution and unlock benefits in their own lives? James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Research, Technology & Society at Google, joins the show to discuss global access to AI and the impact on capitalism, the economy, science, and the workforce. He speaks to Google’s latest AI developments, including tools to warn people about natural disasters like floods and wildfires, along with the virtual research assistant NotebookLM. Read the transcript of this episode here: www.possible.fm/podcasts/manyika For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 01:18 - Hellos and intros 02:36 - James’s career and path into AI 03:59 - UN involvement and diversity of perspectives in global AI  08:04 - Learnings from UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI 10:01 - NotebookLM demo 12:06 - Specific uses of the virtual research assistant NotebookLM  15:03 - Global positive impacts of AI 18:38 - AI and capitalism, the economy  24:10 - AI and climate change  29:17 - Humanity and AI development  32:14 - How to mitigate risks  35:02 - The rising importance of humanist disciplines  36:50 - NotebookLM rollout  39:31 - Truth and bias in the age of AI 40:58 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  NotebookLM - https://notebooklm.google.com/  Governing AI for Humanity, from the UN's High-level Advisory Body on AI - https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/governing_ai_for_humanity_final_report_en.pdf Project Green Light - https://sites.research.google/greenlight/  “Applying AI to Rebuild Middle Class Jobs” by David Autor - https://www.nber.org/papers/w32140  “Accelerating Climate Action with AI” from BCG – https://web-assets.bcg.com/72/cf/b609ac3d4ac6829bae6fa88b8329/bcg-accelerating-climate-action-with-ai-nov-2023-rev.pdf  Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Reid unpacks the decision to appoint Sean White as the leader of Inflection and outlines what makes him uniquely poised to take on this exciting challenge. Plus, Aria asks Reid about the future landscape of LLMs.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How will an empathetic AI interact with humans? What if we used AI not just for its IQ, but its EQ? How do we build the trust to enable it to take agency on our behalf? This week, Reid and Aria sit down with an expert and friend, Sean White to start answering those questions. Sean White is currently the CEO of Inflection AI and is working on expanding the relationship of what AI can do for humans. Sean takes a humanist approach to new technology, and is interested in AI that can go beyond intelligence to learn empathy and take action. Sean's background is as wide-ranging as the conversation, where we discuss the influence of AI in everything from neuroscience to understanding animal languages. Plus, listen to a live test with Pi to demonstrate Pi's ability to handle a tough situation at work, with empathy.  Read the transcript of this episode here. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 01:22 - Hellos and intros 3:20 - Microsoft and Inflection  6:27 - The capabilities and influence of Inflection’s Pi  11:02 - Pi in the workplace  12:10 - Pi in action  15:38 - AI isn’t a human; it is a tool  16:11 - Pi’s IQ vs EQ  17:46 - Pi’s AQ, or our ability to take action via AI  18:51 - How our lives might change in the near future with Pi  21:36 - How our skill sets will elevate  22:28 - Neuroscience and AI  25:22 - Owning your intelligence  30:14 - The wonders of Earth Species Project  34:05 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  Inflection: https://inflection.ai/  Spruce art collective Dr. Eddie Chang, Chang Lab, UCSF  Familiarity by the Punch Brothers Dr. Hirokazu Kato, Nara Institute of Science and Technology Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

With Election Day fast approaching, Reid tackles some big questions: Is Silicon Valley leaning increasingly red? How can—and should—the government modernize voting? Is there a place for AI agents in politics? And which party is really best for business right now?  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

What’s driving some of the greatest political divisions and threats to democracy ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election? This week, Reid and Aria attempt to unpack this with someone who specializes in listening to American voters and translating those insights, at scale: Republican political strategist and The Bulwark co-founder/publisher Sarah Longwell. Sarah, who also hosts The Focus Group Podcast, joins the show to talk about her experience listening to everyday voters through focus groups — and her perspective on how doing so can help people better understand one another, combat misinformation, and heal some of the deepest divides in America today. She shares her perspective on Donald Trump, the upcoming election, the state of politics in Silicon Valley, AI, the future of the Republican Party, and the value of compromising. Plus, Reid tests GPT-4o’s ability to separate fact from fiction.  Note: This conversation is not intended to proselytize or convert anyone. Rather, it is an attempt to learn from someone who has spent hundreds of hours talking to thousands of voters about their lives and politics.   For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 03:41 - Hellos and intros 04:55 - The state of politics now 06:08 - Inside the mind of an undecided voter 08:22 - What polls actually tell us 10:04 - What’s different about the political attitude right now 12:22 - How focus groups work, and what they tell us 18:08 - The benefits of qualitative research 18:52 - How can technology improve focus group research? 23:12 - How to become a better listener and persuader 28:21 - The impact and use cases of AI running focus groups 34:03 - When a human touch is necessary 36:37 - AI video-based sentiment analysis 41:05 - Sarah navigating being a lone wolf in politics 45:19 - What Sarah learned fighting for marriage equality 47:25 - How does misinformation spread and stick? 54:08 - What’s next for the Republican party? 57:42 - GPT-4o “spot the fake headline” test 01:02:57 - Rapid-fire questions Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Reid reflects on his early exposure to AI as an undergraduate at Stanford and on navigating the space between academia and industry. Plus, he and Aria discuss human outcomes of technology—and how human-centered technologists such as Fei-Fei Li, Mustafa Suleyman, and Kevin Scott have helped him keep those outcomes top of mind. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How can scientists leverage AI and machine learning to more effectively research, develop, and deliver new drugs? This week, Reid and Aria talk drug development with renowned computer scientist and executive Dr. Daphne Koller, whose company, insitro, uses machine learning to improve the quality and speed of drug discovery. She addresses several ways AI and ML are already being used to redefine diseases and create better therapeutic interventions. Plus, she shares her experience transitioning from academia to industry.  Read the transcript of this episode here: https://www.possible.fm/podcasts/dkoller For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 00:01: Cold open 00:43: Hellos and intros 3:20: Early involvement in AI  5:00: Overview of drug discovery and its evolution over the last five years  7:50: AI and machine learning impact on biology and drug development  9:09: Pi aside defining AlphaFold  11:37: Areas of acceleration and opportunity in AI and drug discovery  17:21: Synthetic data  21:21: AI implications on therapeutic hypotheses  23:54: Personalized vs. precision medicine  27:04: Closing the data feedback loop  30:31: Exciting announcements  34:24: Privacy and data 36:41: GPT-4 story  38:48: Stuart Russell’s comments on the applications of Koller’s thesis  43:36: AI as a moving target 47:24: How can academia and industry positively impact society and humanity 51:58: insitro’s culture  54:18: - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie Stuart Russell Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

This week, Reid veers toward science fiction, tackling big questions including: Is a single mentally-linked network in our future? Can and should humans create other sentient beings?  Select mentions:  David Brin

What might it look like if we used AI to make democracy work better and to make society more equal? In this special live recording of Possible, Aria turns the tables on her co-host, interviewing Reid alongside Atlantic CEO Nick Thompson. They discuss AI-native generations, the future of friendship and social connections, media, data, privacy, and democracy in the age of AI. To kick off the episode, Reid’s avatar makes a cameo.  Read the transcript of this episode here: https://www.possible.fm/podcasts/nthompson For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 1:53 - Hellos and intros 2:15 - A question from Reid’s AI Avatar 6:24 - Defining this moment in technology 10:08 - AI, journalism, and democracy 13:32 - AI and empathy  20:17 - Why AI is exciting for young people 22:44 - How impacts the world of friendship  33:07 - AI and privacy 41:21 - Looking ahead  47:51 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  The Worlds I See by Fei-fei Li Earth Species Project Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

This week, Aria asks Reid about government regulation of AI, including where the U.S. fits in on the global stage and how America can learn from where the early regulation of social media fell short.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How can the U.S. government support the use of AI to stimulate innovation, bring healthcare to people more effectively, and educate people more equitably—all while thoughtfully navigating technology’s impact on people’s way of life?  On this week’s episode, Reid and Aria sit down with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to discuss her work leading the government’s efforts to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of AI for Americans. She gets into the federal government’s approach to AI innovation and safety, emphasizing the importance of global partnerships. Plus, she shares how the U.S. can make hardware “sexy” again—and why it matters.   Read the transcript of this episode here: https://www.possible.fm/podcasts/raimondo For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:30 - Hellos and intros 6:44 - Hopes and goals for American citizens 9:34 - America’s approach to AI compared to its approach to other digital innovations 14:15 - How the U.S. can “make building hardware sexy again” 18:21 - International cooperation on AI 21:39 - How technology leaders can contribute to private-public partnerships 24:14 - What excites Secretary Raimondo most right now 26:35 - How industry can relieve anxiety about job security in an AI-world Select mentions:  AI Safety Institute CHIPS Act Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

In this episode, Aria asks Reid about his general and AI-specific investment philosophies, including what draws him to a pitch and what raises red flags. They discuss agentic AI, robots, and hardware.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

This week, Reid and Aria are joined by Ashton Kutcher. While you might know him as the actor and producer who rose to fame on That ‘70s Show, Dude, Where’s My Car, and MTV’s Punk’d, Ashton is also an accomplished venture capitalist. He is co-founder of the VC firm Sound Ventures, and he has been investing in AI for more than a decade. Ashton, Reid, and Aria discuss the future of AI software and hardware, startups, and the AI revolution’s impact on society.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:00 - Hellos and intros 3:56 - Ashton and Reid’s trip to the South Pole 8:20 - What’s exciting about AI for investors  13:31 - How Ashton brings AI into his daily life 19:02 - Changes to the job market in an age of AI 22:01 - How people can maintain their agency and find more time in the age of AI 26:37 - AI and talent-sourcing 30:40 - How to be a “tryer”  35:14 - Rapid-fire questions  Select mentions The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Dædalus   Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.