Humans in the Loop

Sir Dieter Helm is the UK's leading energy economist and Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford. He is also the first Knight of the Realm on Humans in the Loop.As a proud Brit and European, I care deeply about British and European prosperity. Technology is not the only driver of that, but it is an important one. And given the geopolitical state of the world, there is going to be more and more importance placed on sovereignty i.e. our ability to stand on our own two feet.I often run into this argument that one of the major blockers to sovereign British technology is the high cost of British energy, so I brought Dieter on to talk about British energy and what a more sovereign technological future might look like. Dieter's book - Climate Realism: Facing the Facts about Energy is out on October 8th: https://dieterhelm.co.uk/books/climate-realism/Key topicsUK deindustrialization and its impact on emissionsIntermittent renewable energy and system costsCost structure of industrial energy in the UKGlobal competitiveness and energy pricesThe role of nuclear and firm powerSovereignty and energy independence post-BrexitGlobal energy resources and geopolitical risksTechnological innovation in energy and AIWhere you can watch/listenYoutube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HumansintheLoopPodApple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4BbslJR0KA5bfqrcYRhJER?si=b5a46211098b4f3e⁠Or wherever you get your podcasts!Get in touchInstagram⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod/⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.comWhere to find Sir DieterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieter-helm-3077b214b/Website: https://dieterhelm.co.uk/

Claire Stapleton spent 12 years at Google from 2007 - 2019. She joined as a fresh grad at a time of peak optimism and idealism in Silicon Valley, and soon became somewhat of a 'Bard' - responsible for shaping the story and sharing the folklore around Google with employees and later the outside world.In 2018, feeling increasingly disillusioned with what Google had become, Claire was one of the organizers of a 20k employee walkout in protest against the company's handling of sexual harassment allegations against certain senior executives - one of whom, Andy Rubin, had allegations against him deemed credible by an internal investigation - yet walked away with a warm handshake and $90m exit package.Claire and the other women who organised faced a backlash from Google with their roles and responsibilities being diminished in the aftermath.Claire eventually left in 2019, and her memoir, 'Don't Be Evil' has recently been released and is available at any good bookshop near you: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/books/review/dont-be-evil-claire-stapleton.htmlClaire's own journey maps to a time in which internal and public sentiment towards big tech in general has shifted so we sat down to talk not just about her own experience at Google, but also the wider vibe shift in the industry as a whole.Key topicsThe early idealistic days of GoogleClaire's role as 'The Bard' - telling the internal folklore of Google to its employees and the outside worldGoogle's Me Too moment - her role as organizer of 20k employee walkoutThe backlash that she and other women at Google faced as a consequenceThe vibe shift from idealism to corporate ruthlessnessWhen she stopped believing the story she was tellingHer experiences of parenting and grief and how that shaped how she felt about her workWhere you can watch/listenYoutube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HumansintheLoopPodApple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4BbslJR0KA5bfqrcYRhJER?si=b5a46211098b4f3e⁠Or wherever you get your podcasts!Get in touchInstagram⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod/⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.comWhere to find ClaireLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-stapleton-868a935/Substack: ⁠https://techsupport.substack.com/X: https://x.com/clairewaves?s=20Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewaves

Benedict Evans is a tech analyst and former partner at A16z.His newsletter with rational takes on tech goes out to over 175k people.In amongst the noise around AI and the tech industry more broadly, Benedict has built a reputation for high quality, level headed analysis.I sat down with Benedict to discuss topics such as:The current state of technology and ongoing platform shiftsWhether this time is truly different or notHistorical comparisons of technological revolutionsChallenges in predicting AI's future trajectorySilicon Valley’s naivety about the worldThe cultural and philosophical aspects of AI and artThe importance of understanding complex systems and marketsWhere else you can listenYoutube⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/@HumansintheLoopPod⁠⁠Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114Spotify⁠⁠ - https://open.spotify.com/show/4BbslJR0KA5bfqrcYRhJER?si=b5a46211098b4f3eOr wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 Introduction and Benedict Evans' perspective on tech noise03:33 E-commerce growth and retail media expansion07:05 Historical scale of technological change and exponential growth10:33 The unpredictability of technological evolution14:08 The difference between automating tasks and jobs17:24 The limitations of AI in creating authentic art18:13 The organizational and deployment challenges of AI20:39 The emergence of new pathways and the unpredictability of AI evolution22:20 Historical perspectives on internet and mobile adoption23:37 The importance of questions and uncertainty in analysis25:01 The impact of the internet on industries and productivity26:29 The exponential nature of technological progress28:23 Organizational inertia and the difficulty of change30:04 The complexity of automating jobs versus tasks32:38 The role of models in understanding human work and creativity36:26 The potential of AI as a pattern matcher and logic system39:23 The philosophical limits of AI and human judgment41:24 Cultural perceptions of art, authenticity, and AI44:52 The enduring human element and cultural value in art45:46 The future of AI and human creativity48:47 The broader implications of AI as a platform for a new economy50:15 Historical context of technological revolutions and their long timelines52:24 Philosophical debates on existence, value, and AI54:07 Benedict Evans' perspective on Silicon Valley and tech optimism55:35 The influence of politics and regulation on AI development56:49 The mindset needed for startup innovation and large-scale change57:20 Benedict Evans' optimism about the future and long-term progress58:47 Reflections on historical hardships and the progress of humanity01:00:51 The long arc of human history and technological progressGet in touchInstagram⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod/Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.comWhere to find BenedictLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedictevans/Newsletter: https://www.ben-evans.com/newsletterWebsite: https://www.ben-evans.com

Few people understand language quite like today's guest. Emily M. Bender is a Professor of Computational Linguistics at the University of Washington. She's also the person who coined the term 'Stochastic Parrots' in the now infamous paper that saw Google fire its Ethical AI lead; and the co-author of The AI Con, a book which is unflinching in its criticism of both AI boosterism and doomerism (in fact she objects to the term AI).I sat down with Emily to discuss topics such as:How language really worksWhat LLMs are actually doingWhat Stochastic Parrots really meansWhy doomers and boosters are two sides of the same, misleading coinWhere else you can listen⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/@HumansintheLoopPod⁠Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠ - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114⁠Spotify⁠ - https://open.spotify.com/show/4BbslJR0KA5bfqrcYRhJER?si=b5a46211098b4f3eOr wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI and Linguistics02:54 Understanding Computational Linguistics05:47 The Stochastic Parrots Paper08:32 The Implications of AI Terminology10:57 Skepticism Towards AI Claims12:58 The Illusion of Intelligence in AI15:55 The Dangers of AI in Professional Settings18:33 Democratization and Distrust in AI Development28:02 Doomers vs. Boosters: The AI Narrative32:57 Skepticism in AI: A Personal Journey36:30 The Rapid Evolution of AI: Are We Outdated?40:13 The Role of Software Engineering in AI48:14 Automation vs. Human Expertise: A Balancing Act53:02 Geopolitical Narratives: The AI Arms Race56:33 The Future of AI: Regulation and Ethical Use57:44 Pride in Expertise: Understanding Our ValueGet in touch⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod/Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

I sat down with Paul Kedrosky - investor, researcher and one of the smartest voices out there on the economics of AI and the risks of a bubble.Here are a few of the questions we talked about:What is a bubble?Is AI a bubble?How does it compare to past bubbles?What would cause the bubble to burst?Why should the average person care?Will we see a bull market in laser tag in all the abandoned data centres?What needs to be true for AI to NOT be a bubble?More info about PaulPaul Kedrosky is an investor, writer, and researcher. He has been a regular on-air contributor at CNBC and Bloomberg, and has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and publications around the world. Paul started as an engineer, became a quota-carrying salesperson, then a technology equity analyst on Wall Street, and eventually a venture capitalist. He has started companies, held academic positions in the U.S. and Canada, has a popular newsletter, and is a research fellow at MIT's Institute for the Digital Economy. His Ph.D. research focused on risk, adoption, and path dependence in finance and technology.Where else you can listen⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/@HumansintheLoopPodApple podcasts⁠⁠ - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4BbslJR0KA5bfqrcYRhJER?si=b5a46211098b4f3eOr wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 The AI Bubble Debate06:44 Understanding Bubbles and Their Characteristics12:04 Historical Context: Railroads and AI17:51 The Call Option on AI's Future19:29 The Necessity of Bubbles for Progress25:31 Consequences of Stranded Assets26:51 The Dilemma of Data Centers28:46 The AI Bubble Dynamics31:20 The Impact of Economic Bubbles on Society34:06 The Interconnectedness of Global Financial Systems36:17 Public Sentiment Towards AI and Job Security38:18 The Fallacy of Technological Inevitability40:20 Regulatory Challenges in a Globalized Economy42:50 Predicting the Burst of the AI Bubble45:37 Market Sentiment and AI Valuations49:21 The Token Economy and Its Implications52:28 Possibilities of Change in the Current Landscape54:57 The Future of Work and Economic StabilityLinkshttps://paulkedrosky.com/Get in touch⁠Instagram⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod/Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

How do ideas, however crazy they might seem, spread?Who's a true believer vs. a grifter following the money?Can you talk about Epstein and QAnon without losing your rational mind?How can investigative journalism move with the times?These are just some of the questions I sat down to discuss with award-winning journalist and author James R Ball. He has worked as the global editor of TBIJ, a special correspondent at BuzzFeed UK and special projects editor at The Guardian, where he played a key role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the NSA leaks by Edward Snowden, as well as the offshore leaks, HSBC Files, Reading the Riots and Keep it in the Ground projects. At WikiLeaks he was closely involved in Cablegate – the publication of 250,000 classified US embassy cables in 2010 – as well as working on two documentaries based on the Iraq War Logs.James is the author of multiple books, including Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered The World and The Tangled Web We Weave: Inside The Shadow System That Shapes the Internet. His most recent book, The Other Pandemic: How Qanon Contaminated The World, was published by Bloomsbury in July 2023.Where else you can listen⁠Youtube⁠⁠Apple podcasts⁠Or wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 The Evolution of Information Sharing08:41 Understanding QAnon: Origins and Impact28:37 The Social Dynamics of Conspiracy Theories29:34 Navigating Adolescence and Online Radicalization34:20 The Manosphere and Young Men's Perspectives37:01 Moral Panics and Information Overload40:04 The Epstein Connection and Conspiracy Theories52:37 The Future of Information in the Digital AgeLinkshttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesrball.comhttps://www.jamesrball.com/aboutGet in touchInstagramEmail: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

Many of us have a sense that even well-meaning companies and institutions lose their way, sometimes becoming downright evil.Eric Ries is a legend when it comes to building tech companies and his new book is written from the perspective of someone whose been 'on the frontlines in the battle for the soul of our economy'.Incorruptible is a new blueprint for companies that will prosper and endure without losing their soul. Now more than ever we need great organisations, institutions and companies. Things that bring us together, not that tear us apart. That we can trust in to put shared human interests and values at the heart of what they do.If you're going to listen to one Humans in the Loop episode, make it this one.Buy the book now.Where else you can listenYoutubeApple podcastsOr wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 The Core Thesis of 'Incorruptible'02:52 The Urgency of the Moment07:13 Understanding Financial Gravity12:21 The Concept of Shareholder Primacy17:54 The Misconception of Capitalism23:13 Examples of Resilient Companies26:59 The Value of Innovative Corporate Structures28:59 AI Governance and Corporate Responsibility30:35 The Role of Governance in AI Companies32:50 Integrity and Mission in Corporate Governance35:45 The Importance of Principles in Business Decisions38:30 The Role of Integrity in Governance40:49 The Consequences of Corporate Mission Statements43:28 Balancing Lean Startup Principles with Governance46:35 The Right Time for Founders to Implement Governance49:23 An Optimistic Vision for the Future of BusinessLinkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eries/https://x.com/ericrieshttps://www.instagram.com/ericriesactual/https://www.tiktok.com/@ericriesactualhttps://news.theleanstartup.com/https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow Get in touchInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

How to lift an entire country out of poverty?Does philanthropy make a difference?What if wealthy tech founders gave away their money?Will AI make poor countries even poorer?How does technology help a country to develop?Those are some of the questions discussed into today's episode of Humans in the Loop featuring Nick Allardice, CEO of GiveDirectly, a non-profit that's sent over $1 billion in cash, directly to those living in poverty.Where else you can watch/listenYoutube - youtube.com/channel/UC1KEYtwPKr5yUv86f7YDB7g/Apple podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114Or wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 Introduction to GiveDirectly and Philanthropy02:35 Identifying Communities in Need06:18 Technology and Cash Transfers12:10 Empowering Recipients: No Strings Attached17:45 Community Impact and Economic Growth23:46 Limitations of Cash Transfers27:15 Conclusion and Future of Philanthropy27:33 Skepticism of Central Planning in Local Economies28:40 The Ineffectiveness of Traditional Teaching Methods30:38 The Role of Wealthy Individuals in Alleviating Poverty32:52 The Potential of Cash Transfers to Lift Living Standards35:37 The Importance of Urgency in Philanthropy39:26 The Impact of AI on Job Markets in Developing Countries42:46 Balancing Optimism and Fear in the Age of AI47:49 Innovative Approaches to Education and Healthcare50:06 Leveraging AI for Disaster Preparedness54:05 A Call to Action for the Wealthy to Invest in ChangeLinksGiveDirectlyThe experiment in MalawiRutger Bregman's call for the world's billionaires to pick up the phone to NickGet in touchInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

China is shaping the world.In direct ways, like innovation, foreign policy, investment.And indirectly, by provoking a response from countries such as the US who see it as a competitor.China's transformation into one of the world's superpowers is the most remarkable transformation of a single country in the history of the world.And yet it's still poorly understood (including by me).Selina Xu is a writer, researcher and AI & China policy lead in the office of former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt and is here to shed light on China and its technology industry, dispelling some myths along the way.Where else you can listen:Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4BbslJR0KA5bfqrcYRhJER?si=d0edc1049eac4f39Apple podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-in-the-loop/id1831285114Or wherever you get your podcasts!Chapters00:00 The Evolution of China's Tech Industry03:38 Debunking the Copycat Narrative06:16 The Role of the State in Innovation09:51 Xi Jinping's Vision for Technology12:44 The Return of Jack Ma15:35 China's Perspective on Global Competition19:28 Defining Winning in the Superpower Race22:40 China's Unique Approach to Technology Deployment26:50 The Role of the State in AI Development30:03 DeepSeek and the Evolution of Chinese AI34:19 Agentic AI: Trends and Trajectories36:57 Emerging Frontiers in AI Research40:12 Infrastructure and Support for Tech Industries43:44 Geopolitical Implications of Taiwan and Semiconductors46:03 Cultural Perspectives on China and Tech48:53 Optimistic Visions for the Future of AILinks:Selina's websiteChina's AI+ initiativeInvolutionSuspension of ANT's IPOCommon prosperityDeepseek momentChin AI substack - Jeffrey DingGet in touchInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

Henry Shukman is a Zen Master, a meditation teacher, and co-founder of The Way meditation app.As AI poses some hard questions about what it means to be human, I thought Henry might help make some sense of things.Chapters00:00 Understanding Zen: A Personal Journey03:52 The Need for Spirituality: A Personal Crisis10:07 Living Zen in the Modern World13:36 Navigating Modern Existence: Technology and Spirituality18:38 The Motivations Behind Meditation23:15 Technology's Role in Meditation: The Way App32:06 Ambition and Spirituality: Finding Balance39:47 AI and the Nature of Consciousness45:04 Optimism for the Future: Meditation's ImpactLinks⁠The Way App⁠ - https://www.thewayapp.com/Get in touchInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppod⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Website: ⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

My guests today are artists, film makers, educators, technologists and founders of Fuser, a company building an AI workspace for creatives. With so much noise around what AI should or shouldn’t be used for, and where human creativity starts and ends, I wanted to get Dalena and Hirad on to talk more about the creative process in this technological moment.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Fuser and Its Founders03:40 The Vision Behind Fuser06:12 Creative Applications of Fuser08:35 The Role of AI in Creative Processes11:24 Navigating the Challenges of AI in Art13:29 The Future of Creativity with AI15:48 Investor Relations and Company Integrity19:00 The Evolving Landscape of Art and Technology20:52 Conclusion and Future AspirationsLinksFuserBrand videoGet in touch⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠https://www.theuncommonfounder.com⁠[email protected]⁠

Mike Masnick wrote the paper that helped inspire Bluesky and now he sits on the Bluesky board.A long-time advocate of decentralised tech, Mike's paper 'Protocols not platforms' outlined how a more open protocol-based system to social media would create a healthier social media ecosystem in which people were free to vote with their feet (or their mouse) and go elsewhere, without losing access to the community they'd built.In this wide ranging conversation, Mike and I discuss the future of social media, the internet's trajectory from an open to a closed ecosystem, whether decentralisation can be a winning strategy in a capitalist economy, and much more.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mike Masnick and Tech Perspectives05:53 The Evolution of TechDirt and Innovation11:03 Understanding Free Speech in the Digital Age15:53 Protocols vs. Platforms: A New Approach to Free Speech20:50 The Shift from Protocol-Centric to Platform-Centric Internet28:48 The Evolution of Patents and Competition31:10 Understanding the Problems with Big Tech32:23 Moving Towards Decentralization33:23 The Role of Decentralized Protocols35:11 Generative AI: Empowerment vs. Control37:55 Building Personalized Tools for Empowerment41:35 Decentralization in Social Media: Blue Sky Explained49:12 The Future of Decentralized Systems53:04 Mainstream Adoption of Decentralized TechnologiesLinksProtocols not platformsBlueskyGet in touchInstagram⁠https://[email protected]⁠

Alex Komoroske is one of the smartest voices out there talking about better forms of technology right now.He spent a long chapter of his career at the likes of Google and Stripe and is now the Founder and CEO of Common Tools, working on enabling decentralised technology.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Alex Komoroske's Perspective on Tech03:39 The Hacker Ethic and Disillusionment in Tech06:31 The Slide into Cynicism: A Cultural Shift in Tech09:12 Emergence and Coordination Complexity in Organizations11:40 Slime Molds: A Metaphor for Organizational Dynamics14:24 The Future of Incumbent Organizations17:24 The Same Origin Policy and Its Consequences20:06 Resonance vs. Hollowness in Technology22:50 The Resonant Computing Manifesto25:09 The Role of LLMs in Shaping the Future32:07 Unlocking the Power of LLMs35:40 The Role of Privacy in Resonant Computing37:09 Organizational Structures for Resonance42:24 The Importance of a Resonant Privacy Model46:38 Emergence and Resonance in Technology53:55 A Vision for the Future of TechnologyLinks:Resonant computing manifestoAlex’s websiteSlime molds deckAlex’s ‘bits and bobs’ documentThe Same Origin ParadigmGet in touch: https://www.instagram.com/[email protected]://www.theuncommonfounder.com

How to describe Kevin Kelly?Founder of Wired Magazine. Writer of industry defining essays like '1000 true fans' - https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/Co-chair of The Long Now Foundation encouraging people to think on civilisational timescalesPassionate traveller and photographer whose travelled remote parts of Asia for the last 50 years - https://kevin2kelly.myshopify.com/products/colors-of-asia-a-visual-journeyThe subject of the brilliant term, coined by Brie Wolfson - Flounder Mode https://joincolossus.com/article/flounder-mode/And a dream podcast guestKevin is known for many things, not least his optimism, but Kevin's flavour of optimism is what we calls 'protopian not utopian' - an acknowledgement that new technology creates major new problems but that over time we find ways to solve themChapters00:00 The Hollywood Approach to Career Paths05:20 Pursuing Interesting Projects07:46 Influence and Unique Contributions10:38 Radical Optimism Explained13:38 The Choice of Optimism16:28 The Reality of Progress19:05 Wrestling with Counter Narratives21:54 Building Better Technology28:18 Navigating Technology's Strengths and Weaknesses30:54 The Ethics of Technology Creation33:14 The Role of Corporations in Technology36:04 The Necessity of Innovation in Addressing Problems42:14 Long-Term Thinking and the Long Now Foundation47:55 Envisioning a Desirable Future53:11 Celebrating Cultural Heritage Through PhotographyGet in touchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/humansinthelooppodEmail: [email protected] website: https://www.theuncommonfounder.com

Ed has spent his career thinking systemically about the future and consulting with governments and corporations on topics as varied as the environment, politics, healthcare and education.He's also the co-host of hit podcast 'Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts' alongside comedian Jon Richardson and fellow Futurenaut Mark Stevenson.Given Ed's varied expertise I wasn't quite sure where this conversation would go, but I needn't have worried. What unfolded was a great chat about climate, politics, and the soft technologies of technology that we need to make better use of to solve our toughest problems.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ed's Work04:22 The Role of a Futurist07:17 Asking the Right Questions10:23 The Politicization of Climate Change13:12 The Transition to Renewable Energy16:01 Motivations Behind Climate Action18:57 The Economic Case for Renewables22:01 The Challenge of Unburnable Carbon25:17 Exploring Economic Models: Degrowth vs. Abundance29:59 Grassroots Perspectives on Climate Action34:43 Bystander Leadership: The Call for Courage40:20 Finding Hope Amidst Challenges46:41 Envisioning a Future of Bio-Regionalism

Benedikt Lehnert is former design leader at Microsoft and Chief Design Officer at SAP. He's had a seat at the top table in big tech and brings his own clear-eyed perspective based on that experience.I really enjoyed the conversation with Ben as we discussed the role of the designer in this current moment, the moral responsibilities of building business and technology, the hype cycles and weird incentives at play with the AI hyperscalers, and Ben's view that we should simply focus on adding more than we take.Chapters00:00 The Evolution of a Designer05:38 Navigating the Startup Journey10:03 Transforming Microsoft: A Design Perspective14:45 The Role of Chief Design Officer at SAP20:14 Shifting Focus: From Big Tech to Teaching and Ethics30:07 The Human Condition in Technology38:35 AI and Humanistic Considerations43:17 Learning from Poets and Thinkers58:37 A Hopeful Vision for the FutureBen hosts the Poets and Thinkers podcast and you can find out more about him here: https://benediktlehnert.github.io/

SummaryIn this conversation, I speak to Kate Armstrong, the Executive Director of InterSpecies Internet, about the latest advancements in how we communicate with animals through technology.Kate emphasizes the importance of planetary kinship and the responsibility humans have as advanced toolmakers to create beneficial tools for other species. The discussion also touches on real-world applications of interspecies communication, the complexities of wild animal communication, and the need for legal frameworks to protect animal rights. Throughout the conversation, Kate shares insights into the future of this field and the resources available for those interested in learning more.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Interspecies Internet03:47 The Journey to Interspecies Communication06:59 The Origin Story of Interspecies Internet11:21 Understanding Interspecies Communication14:19 The Importance of Interspecies Communication17:17 Technological Applications in Interspecies Communication19:52 Frontiers of Interspecies Communication22:50 The Role of AI in Animal Communication25:40 Exploring Communication Across Species28:24 Anthropocentrism in Animal Communication30:39 The Magic of Interspecies Communication32:11 Domestic Animals as Communication Pioneers36:18 Ethical Considerations in Animal Communication38:45 Nature Rights and Legal Frameworks44:53 The Future of Interspecies CommunicationResources:https://www.interspecies.io/TED talk

This episode features an OG in the world of internet security, the Godfather of Cybersecurity, Bruce Schneier.Bruce describes himself as a public interest technologist, and has done many things under that banner - run companies, lectured at Harvard, testified before Congress, authored over a dozen books, and written a blog for over 20 years that has more than 250k regular readers - to name just a few.Key topics:- The need for better technical minds in policy making- The implications of AI for democracy (not as bleak as you might expect - Bruce’s new book Rewiring Democracy goes deep on the emerging implications and he remains largely optimistic)- Why the internet was not designed with security in mind- Why prompt injection makes AI applications inherently insecure for high stakes tasks- Threat modelling for personal security in an age of geopoliticsChapters00:00 What Bruce actually does03:58 The Journey to Becoming a Public Interest Technologist 06:54 Understanding Cybersecurity and the Internet Today 09:36 Advice for Online Safety and Security 12:39 The Role of Governments in Data Privacy 15:41 Geopolitical Implications of Cybersecurity 18:35 Cyber-Physical Systems and Their Risks 21:49 The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity 24:27 Rewiring Democracy in the Age of Technology 30:08 The Evolving Landscape of Cybersecurity and AI 32:21 Understanding Prompt Injection Vulnerabilities 36:30 The Internet's Security Flaws and Historical Context 39:25 Capitalism's Role in Cybersecurity Failures 46:11 Skepticism Towards Web3 and Blockchain 48:37 Rewiring Democracy for the Information Age 55:27 Trust, Power, and the Future of AI in GovernanceYou can find Bruce at www.schneier.com

This episode features Sam Stephenson, co-founder of ⁠Granola⁠ - one of the standout UK success stories in AI product building.Sam and I discussed his background as a designer, his journey to becoming a founder, the trajectory of the company so far, and shares his thoughts on designing for human agency and the future of work. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Granola and Its Purpose 02:33 Sam's Background and Design Journey 05:19 Influences from Communal Living 09:36 The Origin of Granola and Co-founder Dynamics 12:01 The Messy Process of Finding the Right Project 16:12 Simplicity in Product Design 19:11 Growth Trajectory and User Experience 21:45 Balancing Short-term and Long-term Goals 24:12 Navigating AI Development Challenges 26:50 Balancing Innovation and Practicality in AI 29:16 The Pressure of Rapid Growth in AI Startups 32:43 The Future of Work with AI Assistance 36:51 Reducing Coordination Complexity in Organizations 38:28 The Human Element in AI Interactions 41:01 Agency and Control in the Age of AI 43:31 Envisioning a High-Leverage Future with AI

In this conversation, I speak to William Morgan and Sylvan Rackham, the Co-Founders of Restless Egg, an incubator for Artist Founders, about the intersection of art, technology, and innovation. They discuss the concept of the 'artist founder', the challenges faced by creative technologists, and the need for a supportive infrastructure to foster their ideas. The conversation explores the role of institutions, funding sources, and the future of technology, particularly in relation to AI. They emphasize the importance of agency in technology and the potential for artist founders to create meaningful experiences that go beyond mere productivity enhancements.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restless Egg01:21 Artist founders04:18 Discovering the Community of Creators10:10 Key Players in the Artist Founder Ecosystem14:37 The Role of Philosophy and Technology20:31 Bridging Art and Technology25:32 Defining the Artist Founder28:24 The Future of AI and Experience29:20 The Role of Artist Founders in E-commerce32:41 Funding the Creative Frontier36:58 The Shift in Investment Perspectives41:03 The Future of Technology and Agency44:29 AI: Tool or Evolutionary Break?51:45 The Playful Nature of Innovation58:59 Empowering Agency Through TechnologyWhere you can hear more from William and Sylvanwww.restlessegg.comWilliam's substackSome of the organisations mentioned:AntikytheraRestless EggStrelkaMedialabSome of the people mentioned:Benjamin BrattonRefik AnadolDaisy GinsbergIan ChengOther resources referenced:Sam Altman blog post about ideas peopleMy post about Creative OutsidersA piece written by friend and collaborator, Danya ShultsAn artificial history of natural intelligence