Episodes
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America’s criminal justice system relies on public defenders to represent anyone without access to a private attorney. But public defenders are chronically under-resourced and overburdened with caseloads. Can technology help lessen that load and, in effect, make the criminal justice system more just? This week’s guest, Devshi Mehrotra, says yes. Devshi is co-founder and CEO of JusticeText, a startup developing AI software to help lawyers search and review case material more efficiently and enhance police accountability. She joins Reid and Aria to talk about JusticeText’s offerings and opportunities, along with public-private partnerships and local governments’ evolving attitudes toward AI and innovation. Plus, a public defender shares her experience using JusticeText and Devshi demos the platform.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
3:10 - Hellos and intros
6:47 - What inspired the creation of JusticeText
10:38 - What America’s public defenders are up against
12:35 - How JusticeText can help
14:32 - On being a for-profit company
18:11 - Creating a new market
20:47 - JusticeText’s customer base
23:33 - Midroll
23:41 - A testimony from a public defender using the platform
24:40 - Requests for new features
25:58 - JusticeText demo
28:50 - How AI is supporting, not replacing, public defenders’ jobs
30:23 - The intersection of government and technology
32:53 - How local governments are thinking about AI
34:59 - Other technologies that could improve the justice system
37:28 - What entrepreneurial advice Devshi would give her younger self
38:43 - The future of JusticeText
40:42 - Rapid-fire questions -
After last week’s wide-ranging discussion with Bill Gates, Aria asks Reid for his take on the work of this philanthropic luminary. Plus, Reid gives a three-part answer to the technology developments he thinks are going to have broad and beneficial applications across many fields.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ -
Episodes manquant?
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In this episode of Remarkable People, join host Guy Kawasaki for an illuminating conversation with Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and partner at Greylock. Together, they explore entrepreneurship, politics, and artificial intelligence, offering unique insights into blitzscaling, the future of democracy, and how games shaped his strategic thinking. Hoffman shares candid views on Silicon Valley dynamics, the impact of extreme wealth, and his optimistic vision for AI's role in society. Discover how this tech pioneer navigates the intersection of technology, business, and civic responsibility.
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Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, we’re bringing you a bonus episode from Reid's Masters of Scale podcast. A few weeks ago, Reid sat down with former President Bill Clinton at the Masters of Scale Summit to talk about the current state of American democracy, polarization, and what’s at stake in this election. Their full, unedited stage conversation is presented in this episode. To hear more conversations like these from Reid Hoffman, subscribe to Masters of Scale wherever you get your podcasts: https://mastersofscale.com/follow
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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. -
Reid discusses what aspects of urban planning need to be reimagined. He advocates that prioritizing smart technology, clean energy, and data can vastly improve residents’ quality of life. Plus, Aria asks Reid about the potential of technologies existent and forthcoming—including self-flying cars.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ - Montre plus
