Possible

What could we gain—and what might we lose—when technology begins to approximate the contours of human connection and presence? In this episode, Reid and Aria chat with comedian, actor, and political commentator Stephen Colbert. Best known for hosting The Colbert Report and The Late Show, Stephen combines a razor sharp satire with a sincere curiosity about the world. Together, Reid, Aria, and Stephen discuss the art of live performance, the many lessons one can learn from J.R.R. Tolkien, and the nature of creativity, humor, and imagination in the age of AI. The result is a meditation on discovery, empathy, and the bonds that make connection more than performance — but a shared act of being human. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 2:35 – Hellos and intros 2:53 – Stephen Riffs on humanity and Dungeons & Dragons  6:08 – Tolkien characters and desert island companions 7:02 – Creativity, empathy, and imagination in comedy 11:37 – Performing for a live audience 13:02 – Comedy as a third space 16:22 – Early ideas about interactive technology and improvisation 19:14 – Can AI art escape the uncanny valley 22:27 – The human “micronutrients” that AI cannot replace 24:05 – Parasocial relationships and the future of entertainment 26:50:– Midroll 26:58 – Responsibility and fact-checking 29:56 – Personalization versus discovery in AI storytelling 33:47 – Lessons from Tolkien 41:22 – AI as part of human evolution 44:51 – How AI can already be employed in health fields 48:46 – AI in video games and creative amplification 49:58 – Balancing skepticism and excitement about AI 50:06 – Rapid-fire Questions Select mentions:  A Man Jumps Out of an Airplane by Barry Yourgrau Exploring The Lord of the Rings with Dr. Corey Olsen Letter 144 by J.R.R. Tolkien  Robert Heinlein 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. Each episode seeks 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 and Aria discuss the challenges around integrating AI into organizations and workspaces, China’s recent pivot away from NVIDIA, and OpenAI’s new $50 million NGO-focused fund. Reid also offers his take on a recent Stanford study that looks at entry-level jobs at risk of AI replacement.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Gains in the quality of America’s K-12 education in the late 20th and early 21st century have largely plateaued—and , in several instances, reversed—in the last few decades. This week, Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price joins the show to discuss her fast-expanding network of AI-powered private schools, which she says represent the reform the system so badly needs. She explains why Alpha students learn core academics in two hours a day via a personalized learning platform—not human teachers—and then devote the rest of the school day to passion projects, life skills, and real-world learning. Plus, we hear from Alex, a high school senior at Alpha’s Austin, TX location, about his experience.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:45 - Hellos and intros 4:12 – MacKenzie’s path from Stanford psychology to Alpha Schools 6:11 – Updating traditional school systems with AI 7:46 – What makes Alpha Schools different 12:01 – The 2-Hour Learning model  15:40 – Key lessons from AI in classrooms  18:11 – AI supercharges students with the “four C’s”: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity 20:47 – Teacher-student connection and mentorship  21:54 – Scaling Alpha Schools & lowering costs 25:47 – AI-driven assessment & personalized learning plans 29:38 – Midroll 29:47 – Alex shares his experience as an Alpha School student and entrepreneur  34:19 – Challenges of scaling   36:09 – Student incentives & using Alpha currency to teach kids financial literacy 38:55 – Alpha students learn life skills & develop entrepreneurial projects  41:44 – GT School for highly accelerated learners 44:55 – “Future of Education” podcast highlights 47:16 – Teachers vs. guides & redefining expertise in education 49:21 – Using AI for public speaking & coaching 51:02 – Rapid fire questions Select mentions:  Alpha School, AI-Driven Education Founded in Austin, Is Coming to More Cities — New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/ai-alpha-school-austin-texas.html  Future of Education Podcast: https://futureofeducationpod.com/  Berry: https://berryplush.com/  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. Each episode seeks 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 and Aria discuss the much-anticipated launch of GPT-5, Figma's blockbuster IPO, Perplexity’s bid to acquire Google Chrome, and the end of AOL’s dial-up internet service. Plus, Reid offers his take on why some companies find explosive growth and others fade just as fast.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Select mentions:  For the Hamilton v.s. Satoshi Bitcoin Rap Battle: https://reid.medium.com/bitcoin-rap-battle-hamilton-vs-satoshi-de3058b3dff0   The innovator’s dilemma by Clayton Christensen

How can we take digitally-empowered democracy straight out of science fiction into reality? This week, Reid and Aria are joined by two digital democracy pioneers, Audrey Tang and Divya Siddarth. Audrey Tang is a cyber ambassador-at-large and former inaugural Minister of Digital Affairs for Taiwan. Their pioneering initiatives like the Sunflower Movement, g0v, and vTaiwan have fought misinformation and influenced policy decisions. Audrey is also a senior research fellow for the Collective Intelligence Project, co-founded and directed by Divya Siddarth. Divya leads projects worldwide that give voice to the public in building better AI.  Audrey and Divya have spent years investigating how people converge on uncommon ground and how to beat polarization. They discuss the power of collective input and collaboration to create a cycle of collective intelligence. Plus, how AI tools—informed by public input—can enhance governance, digital life, and bring out the best in all of us.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:07 - Hellos and intros 3:38 - Audrey and Divya's partnership backstory 7:06 - Challenges and surprises with AI in governance 10:19 - What problems do CIP's projects aim to solve? 13:04 - Breakthroughs in collective intelligence 15:08 - Fighting polarization in the age of social media 16:50 - Capitalizing on innate collective intelligence 18:51 - The difference between collective intelligence and democracy 20:33 - Design principles for democracy-forward AI 23:30 - Involving the public in AI model building 26:18 - Midroll  28:32 - Bringing Taiwan's civic wins worldwide 30:41 - Radical transparency in digital tools 35:18 - Why aren't Taiwan's initiatives landing in the U.S. 38:09 - Creating digital twins 39:52 - Reid and Aria's outlook on AI and democracy relations 42:04 - Who would Reid delegate AI centralization to? 45:05 - Rapid-fire Select mentions:  Plurality by  E. Glen Weyl, Audrey Tang, and Community Global Dialogues — The Collective Intelligence Project  Alignment Assemblies — The Collective Intelligence Project  “Anthem” by Leonard Cohen A Half Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer Taiwan’s Digital Minister Knows How to Crush Covid-19: Trust | WIRED  What Could BG Be? Engaged California How the Sunflower movement birthed a generation determined to protect Taiwan 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Could the very technology that requires massive amounts of energy to power it also be key to solving the climate crisis? This week, Reid and Aria discuss the global energy arms race and why the U.S. is lagging behind competitors like China. Reid weighs in on the environmental impact and human costs of AI infrastructure, along with mounting tensions between hyperscalers and the communities that host their data centers.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

What can public libraries teach us about finding and sharing trustworthy information in the age of AI? How can—and should—AI build upon the technology that is books? This week, Reid and Aria head to the New York Public Library in Manhattan for a conversation with the storied institution’s president and CEO, Tony Marx. They explore the function of libraries in the age of AI, debate the future of work, and discuss what it looks like for civic institutions to embrace transformative technology without sacrificing core values.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 2:54 - Hellos and intros 3:23 - Tony’s studies and work in South Africa 5:25 - Taking a job as president of Amherst College 8:43 - Eliminating library fines and fees 9:23 - Visiting the Inwood Library 13:30 - Determining what gets digitized  16:20 - New media  17:42 -  AI’s function for libraries  23:08 - Navigating hallucinations 27:57 -  AI becoming our epistemology 29:36 -  Technological advancements at the NYPL 33:54 - Future of work and human costs of AI 39:41 - Can AI close the educational gap? 42:43 - Trust, reliability, and AI 45:18 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  Possible | Kim Stanley Robinson on the future of civilization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6OlJbPDpyc  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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

On Part II of last week’s Live Riff, co-hosted with Village Global, Reid fields audience member questions about scale product-market fit, license modeling, data sensitivities, and the future of customer service, along with positive use cases for deepfake technology and the making of Reid AI, his digital twin. He also tells a story from his PayPal days, when Peter Thiel gave him five days to come up with a solution to a problem that was putting money and user trust on the line.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  For Reid and Allie Miller’s agent experiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeLSq9D65m4  For Reid AI giving Reid’s Perugia speech in multiple languages: https://www.reidhoffman.org/perugia-speech/  For the Masters of Scale episode about building trust featuring Daniel Ek: https://mastersofscale.com/daniel-ek-how-to-build-trust-fast/

Crypto often feels like a microcosm of the broader government–tech relationship. On one extreme, you have true believers who see blockchain as the next frontier of economic empowerment and radical transparency. On the other, skeptics who point to ransomware attacks, illicit finance, and the flipside of anonymity—and call for an outright ban. This week on Possible, Reid and Aria talk crypto –– both the positives and negatives ––  and how we can iterate toward better outcomes. Reid discusses pro-innovation regulation, where crypto fits into waves of anti-technology sentiment, and the potential for cryptocurrency to benefit a range of communities.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

What if AI helped people develop and deepen their existing expertise, and better outfitted them for the jobs of the future? This week, Reid and Aria are joined by one of the world’s leading labor economists, David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics at MIT and co-director of its Work of the Future Task Force. He is also a Visiting Fellow in the Google Technology and Society Program. David’s landmark research on the China Shock has become foundational for policymakers grappling with globalization’s labor impacts. Reid, Aria, and David discuss the parallels between China Shock and AI Shock, the labor market, how AI can help us make better decisions, automation vs. collaboration, and AI’s potential to enhance human-centered jobs. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 2:27 - Hellos and intros 4:30 - China Shock vs. AI Shock  10:56 - How AI could affect skill-based labor  15:37 - Google Gemini aside: more about the air traffic controller shortage 16:31 - How technologies can be amplifiers of expertise 22:09 - AI as a collaboration tool  24:52 - Why speed of labor market change makes a difference 29:25 - How AI can be good for the middle class 31:04 - Learning to use AI to your advantage 34:27 - More upward mobility at work  41:39 - Technology increasing quality of life  47:34 - Tools to put in place to ensure improvements for all  50:29 - Successfully transitioning to a new AI future 56:51 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  Geoffrey Hinton WALL-E Mad Max: Fury Road NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

What happens when we take numbers seriously—not just at face value, but in terms of their actual impact on our lives? This week, Reid and Aria are joined by UK-based mathematician and media personality Hannah Fry to explore this deceptively simple question. From cancer diagnoses to dating apps, Hannah makes the case that understanding the math behind our decisions—and the "game" we're really playing—is essential to building a better future.  They discuss why regret minimization is often a better guide than raw percentages in assessing risks; Hannah’s advice on finding love in a sea of swipe-rights; and how a well-framed question can be more powerful than the right answer. Plus, Inflection’s Pi chimes in with a few Jane-Austen-themed math jokes. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:01 - Hellos and intros 3:15 - Considering hairdressing, instant feedback, and becoming a broadcaster 5:11 - Making math emotionally resonant 7:37 - Math as power and who gets to shape the future 9:10 - Understanding AI through probabilities and spectrums 12:01 - The emotional limits of statistics in medical decision-making 16:22 - Choosing the right “game” to optimize for 19:57 - How to build systems that self-correct 23:19 - Rethinking education and assessments in the AI era 26:42 - Updating dating advice for the AI age 30:03 - Real-life “Black Mirror” 36:11 - Storytelling vs. statistics 41:47 - Probability thinking, AI confidence, and useful heuristics 45:31 - Pi delivers math-themed Jane Austen jokes 47:15 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions:  Google DeepMind: The Podcast The Mathematics of Love TED Talk When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut “Women also Snowboard: Overcoming Bias in Captioning Models” by Kaylee Burns, Lisa Anne Hendricks, Kate Saenko, Trevor Darrell, and Anna Rohrbach 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

This episode has been re-uploaded to correct an error. If you are a subscriber and/or downloaded it on its release, consider deleting and redownloading it to hear the corrected audio. We apologize for the inconvenience.   On this week's Riffs, Reid and Aria unpack last week’s conversation with Yuval Noah Harari, discussing AI's rapid advancements, its potential impacts on humanity, and the meaning of consciousness. Reid and Aria also discuss who will be responsible for making sure AI is aligned with human values –– no matter what the future looks like.  00:00 Introduction and overview 00:16 Reflecting on the conversation with Yuval  05:14 The role of AI labs and accountability 11:45 Philosophical questions on AI and consciousness For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

What will it take to create AI that is as trustworthy, if not more trustworthy than humans?  This week, Reid and Aria sit down with Yuval Noah Harari, historian, philosopher, and best-selling author of several books including Nexus, Sapiens and Homo Deus. When it comes to outlook on AI, Yuval, Reid, and Aria agree on the importance of building both human trust in AI and AI that is genuinely truth-seeking, but they differ on how possible it is to achieve.  Together, they dig into their diverging opinions on the outcomes of the AI revolution, global cooperation, and how AI will learn from humans. They also discuss the differences between intelligence and consciousness, and whether conscious AI is a goal worth pursuing.  Yuval turns to history to ground his warnings about AI. Even though he’s cautious about technology, he is critical of cynicism. Yuval shares his philosophy on human compassion as a guiding principle that can allow us to steer away from collapse and ultimately, build a better AI future.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:38 - Hellos and intros 3:58 - Questions for the Buddha 5:48 - Yuval’s relationship with technology 8:57 - Technologies that help humans share stories and myths 10:37 - Is AI the most significant invention after writing 13:02 - How AI will transform society 20:12 - Guidance for a successful AI revolution 24:24 - Using AI to support humanity's self-correcting mechanisms 26:13 - Midroll 26:45 - How to build self-correcting mechanisms for a better future 31:28 - Humans as parents of AI 36:33 - What political leaders need to do to create a positive AI future 39:11 - Artificial intelligence v.s. artificial consciousness 42:35 - AI as a tool for rebuilding trust 44:50 - Rapid-fire Questions Select mentions:  History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours Heartstopper 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

On this week’s Riff, Reid reacts to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s suggestion that AIs can help address the loneliness epidemic and function as friends. He and Aria discuss why AIs can be great companions but not great friends, along with how to protect against agent misuse and deception.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How do we build products and platforms that support a healthy, prosperous future? What will it take to “make the internet fun again?” Should kids be using AI? This week, serial entrepreneur and investor Alexis Ohanian—who co-founded Reddit two decades ago and is currently working to reinvent the social news aggregator Digg—joins Reid and Aria to talk about (re)building online and offline communities in the age of AI. They hear from Alexis on his recent bid for U.S. TikTok, the startups and women’s sports ventures he’s backing through his VC firm Seven Seven Six, and his approach to raising AI-forward daughters with his wife, tennis legend Serena Williams.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 03:03 - Hellos and intros 03:24 - Being a “Daddy Caddy” for Olympia 04:36 - Inspiration behind 776 08:26 - Making the internet “fun” again 12:25 - Internet culture vs. the platform 17:49 - Bid for Tiktok 21:47 - AI and online communities 27:01 - AI in women’s sports 30:16 - Hardware vs. software 31:46 - Midroll 32:00 - Kids, parenting, and learning in the age of AI 34:55 - Physical products in a digital world 40:46 - Tech optimism  41:56 - Alexis’s collectibles 44:29 - Rapid-fire questions Select mentions: Seven Seven Six Teenage Engineering Art For Kids Hub Synthesis Tutor Monumental Labs Mantel Unreasonable Hospitality 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Reid breaks down OpenAI’s shift to a public benefit corporation—what it really means, why it matters, and why some critics are missing the point. Aria asks whether all frontier AI companies should follow suit. Reid and Aria discuss how educators can navigate the “messy middle” of AI in the classroom. They also dig into the future of assessment, what students (and job seekers) should be learning now to prepare for an AI future, and whether AI-intensive fields are worth the bet. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Select mentions:  Public Benefit Corporation Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College by James D. Walsh  Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market by Derek Thompson Shopify memo Duolingo memo  Ethan Mollick  Our Possible episode with Ethan Mollick Opportunity at Work

What would it look like to keep all living creatures in the loop on the development of new technology? Reid sat down for a wide-ranging solo discussion with Jane Goodall on that very subject – and more. They talked about how to maintain hope and focus on local impact in today’s often chaotic world, how technology – and AI in particular – might be helpful for conservation, and Jane’s global youth program, Roots & Shoots. Plus, the Jane Goodall institute shared audio from a cutting edge acoustic array that helped them discover a brand new species in Gombe National Park in Tanzania! Jane reflected on her legacy and shared stories about bridging unlikely divides, defying the scientific community early in her career, young people opening their eyes to the natural world for the first time, and so much more. Thank you to the incredible team at the Jane Goodall Institute and WildMon (L. Pintea, B. Wallauer, K. Harmon, M. Campos, Gabriel Leite, Tomaz Melo, Guilherme Melo, D. A. Collins, D. C. Mjungu) that, with funding from Google, utilized an acoustic array to discover brand new species in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, including Thomas’s Dwarf Galago (Galagoides thomasi). For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 03:38 - Hellos and intros 03:45 - “Name that baby” game 05:34 - How Jane has used technology in her work 09:13 - Discovering a new species with an acoustic array 11:57 - How AI can help conservation 16:55 - AI as an animal translator 19:58 - Essential lesson for research 22:30 - Similarities between humans and chimpanzees 26:42 - Bridging divides between unlikely groups 30:32 - “We must either redefine man, redefine tool, or…” 32:20 - Government funding cut from Jane Goodall Institute 36:26 - Youth program Roots and Shoots 39:57 - How to maintain hope 42:53 - What we can learn from kids 44:33 - Global impact of the Roots and Shoots program 46:18 - Jane’s ideal AI tool 48:22 - Jane asks Reid: Can AI become sentient? 51:27 - AI’s impact on the brain 54:55 - Rapid-fire Questions Select mentions:  APOPO’s “Amazing Rats” | How It Works Regeneration by Paul Hawken TACARE Program Roots & Shoots 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Reid weighs in on the U.S. government’s latest antitrust action against Google and what it could mean for competition, innovation, and America’s tech edge. Aria also asks about the rise of Chinese electric vehicles and why BYD might be “the Tesla of tomorrow;” the geopolitical costs of tariffs; and whether saying “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT is worth it.   For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Why can the United States government help make a vaccine in a year but not build a high-speed train in a reasonable timeframe? What if our biggest problems—affordable housing shortages, energy limits, and scientific slowdowns—aren’t inevitable, but chosen? This week, Reid and Aria sit down with Derek Thompson—staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Plain English—to explore how a scarcity mindset is holding American society back. They cover how AI can revolutionize scientific discovery; what Operation Warp Speed got right; and why real progress depends on bold policy, not just better technology. Plus, Reid joins Derek in the hotseat for some “Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right?”—a game co-created with ChatGPT to discuss ideas in Derek’s new best-selling book, Abundance.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Select mentions:  Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson “The Anti-Social Century”  Every Cure co-founder Dr. David Fajgenbaum  Topics: 1:06 – Episode introduction 2:34 – What year would Derek choose to be born and why? 7:14 – What can AI do as a co-author that Ezra Klein can't, and what are Ezra's irreplaceable strengths? 9:08 – AI's impact on the future of work — what AI can and can't do — and what the enduring role of humans will be. 12:00 – The situation with current tariffs, and the potential fixes or silver linings. 14:28 – Operation Warp Speed and other examples of abundance in the U.S. and beyond. 19:39 – What specific government policies could effectively leverage AI to speed up the creation of abundance? 22:40 – Midroll 22:49 – Derek and Reid play a fun game based on Abundance: “Too much, too little, or just right?”  30:46 – What's needed to better incentivize scientific progress and foster innovation? 39:22 – How could society and our relationship with technology be reframed to combat the loneliness epidemic? 45:08 – Derek identifies specific policies that currently hinder abundance and suggests new ones that could promote it. 49:45 – 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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

After Tobi Lütke, the CEO of Shopify, put out a memo stating all his employees should be expected to use AI every day, Reid offers his thoughts on AI in the workplace. He also talks about the interplay between AI, social media, mis/disinformation, and the importance of shaping technology instead of restricting technology. Plus, Reid speculates on how AI can be just as groundbreaking in the world of play as it can be in the world of work.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/