Cities drive prosperity. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, they also have become crucibles of disease. Sameh Wahba , the World Bank’s Global Director of Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience, and Land, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how the World Bank partners with technologists to help cities on the frontline of the pandemic, and how the dynamism of urban density can be harnessed to build livable and inclusive cities of the future. They also address: Why the inexorable trend towards urbaniz...
May 20, 2020•41 min•Ep. 28
After ImageNet transformed AI vision, superstar Stanford computer science professor Fei-Fei Li has turned her attention to advancing healthcare. Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, is leading the next generation of interdisciplinary technologists. She joins Azeem Azhar to explore her journey from pioneering AI vision to her current focus on healthcare, and to discuss the need to craft AI systems that enhance human flourishing. They also discuss: How AI technologies...
May 13, 2020•36 min•Ep. 27
Nasdaq has evolved from being the world’s first digital marketplace to a global technology company. CEO Adena Friedman joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how their digital operation has become the model for markets around the world, the surprising importance of regulation as a driver of innovation, and how Nasdaq prepared to keep functioning during the pandemic lockdown. They also discuss: The infrastructure that allows Nasdaq to reliably maintain data rates thousands of times faster than the internet...
May 06, 2020•38 min•Ep. 26
Global supply chains are efficient, but fragile. How can we make them more robust, flexible, and sustainable? Pamela Mar , EVP for Knowledge and Applications at the Fung Group, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the technological and economic changes needed to improve these vital networks of production and distribution. They discuss: The lessons about mass production and specialization we’re learning with the Covid-19 crisis. How digitization can build trust along the supply chain. Why automation is a...
Apr 29, 2020•34 min•Ep. 25
For the first time in history, there are more people on the planet over 65 years old, than under five. How do we adapt to this demographic transformation? Camilla Cavendish , award-winning journalist and former Director of Public Policy for UK Prime Minister David Cameron, joins Azeem Azhar to explore the immense cost and new potential of this brave old world. They discuss: The huge wealth gap opening up between older and younger people. What we can learn from the Okinawan concept of “ikigai” or...
Apr 27, 2020•34 min
We have long assumed aging is inevitable, but is it? Professor David Sinclair , founder of the Sinclair Lab at Harvard’s Medical School and author of the bestselling “Lifespan: Why We Age — and Why We Don’t Have To,” joins Azeem Azhar to discuss emerging research that promises to radically slow down aging. Their conversation covers: What the Information Theory of Aging is and how it shifts the paradigm on biomarkers of aging. Why periodically stressing your body can promote health and longevity....
Apr 22, 2020•48 min•Ep. 24
In Estonia, the only public service not available online is marriage. Dubbed the “digital republic”, Estonia has the most advanced e-government in the world and nurtures a vibrant start-up community. Kersti Kaljulaid , President of Estonia, joins Azeem Azhar to explore how legal and technological innovations have helped to build e-Estonia, and how this digital republic is navigating the Covid-19 pandemic. They explore: How Covid-19 could accelerate technology development and implementation. How ...
Apr 20, 2020•38 min
Clean energy is now cheaper than coal, and its uptake is accelerating. But can we get to zero emissions in time? Investor and technologist Ramez Naam joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how technological innovation and economies of scale are accelerating us towards a zero-carbon future, as well as the major challenges that remain. They also cover: The virtuous cycle that drove the falling price of clean energy. How the Covid-19 pandemic could be an opportunity for massive government investment in clean...
Apr 15, 2020•40 min•Ep. 23
X, Alphabet Inc.’s “moonshot factory,” dares to solve big problems with breakthrough technologies. Most of their projects fail. But some — like self-driving cars and the AI that powers Google — are already changing the world. CEO Astro Teller joins Azeem Azhar to explain how he built a culture of radical creativity, where employees are encouraged to dream — and to fail — big. In this episode they explore: Why allowing the right amount of chaos is vital for flourishing creativity. The five basic ...
Apr 08, 2020•38 min•Ep. 22
Biotech is gathering pace: AI systems are simulating novel materials, new genomic technologies are enabling precision bioengineering, and automation is executing production on a massive scale. Softbank Vision Fund Senior Managing Partner, Deep Nishar tells Azeem Azhar why biotech is the next trillion-dollar market, and what breakthroughs to expect. In this episode they also discuss: Why emerging biotech and AI, together, would help control and stop coronavirus-like outbreaks in the future. What ...
Apr 01, 2020•38 min•Ep. 21
The world is facing an economic crisis never seen before, says equity analyst Pierre Ferragu . Consumer demand remains strong and supply infrastructure is still healthy, but both are in lockdown and unable to function. In this wide-ranging conversation with Azeem Azhar , Ferragu explains how the pandemic will affect the technology industry and its major players. They also discuss: How “partial insuring” and “China + n” strategies could make for more resilient supply chains. How the crisis is acc...
Mar 30, 2020•35 min
The exponential growth of COVID-19 is threatening to bring down the world economy. To understand the pandemic, Azeem Azhar chats with professor Yaneer Bar-Yam , President of the New England Complex Systems Institute, who worked on the response to Ebola with pioneering complex-systems mathematics. In this conversation, they discuss: Why we need to crush, rather than flatten, the curve. What lessons the Ebola outbreak offers us for dealing with COVID-19. What complexity mathematics offers beyond t...
Mar 24, 2020•41 min•Ep. 20
Data monopolies and abuses of privacy are only some of the flaws of Web 2.0. Muneeb Ali , co-founder and CEO of Blockstack, tells Azeem Azhar how the emerging Web 3.0 solves these challenges and gives users more control over their digital existence. In this conversation, they discuss: Why property rights and privacy are intimately linked. The emergence of a novel app ecosystem on the new internet. The role of the new crypto economy in the transformation of the internet. Further reading: “ Tech T...
Mar 18, 2020•35 min•Ep. 19
Existing social institutions are not adequate to meet the challenges of the exponential age. Social entrepreneur and author, Hilary Cottam , proposes a radical overhaul of the welfare system. In discussion with Azeem Azhar , she also argues that we must reject the old economic model for humanity, Homo econonomicus (guided by ration to maximize economic gains), and embrace Sapiens integra , a new theoretical human with stronger connections to nature and other humans. In this conversation, they di...
Mar 11, 2020•34 min•Ep. 18
“People judge humans by their intentions, and machines by the outcome,” says physicist and author Cesar Hidalgo . He is one of the creators of the field of Complexity Economics. Hidalgo joins Azeem Azhar to explain how he applies this complexity approach to understanding how we judge decision-making in machines. They also discuss: What the Shenzhen electronics market reveals about the economics of megacities. How we unconsciously ascribe morality to machines, and what this implies for innovation...
Mar 04, 2020•42 min•Ep. 17
Airtable, valued at $1.1 billion, is carving out a new product category that could compete with cloud computing in value. The founder of Airtable, Howie Liu , joins Azeem Azhar to discuss what creating a new market category looks like in practice. They also discuss: How Airtable is democratizing software development. Why investors were initially skeptical, and how Howie got them on board. How Airtable treats its competition, including the tech giants. Further reading: “ Move Slow and Make Things...
Feb 26, 2020•30 min•Ep. 16
Some would argue that the world is more volatile today than it was during the Cold War, and technology is catalyzing a number of fundamental changes to the world order. Geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer joins Azeem Azhar to dissect the top risks for the decade ahead. They also discuss: How technology is influencing global decoupling. How the China-U.S. relationship will shape the world in the next decade. How we should think about global challenges in a multipolar world. Further reading: “ Top Ris...
Feb 19, 2020•42 min•Ep. 15
Crisis management is not only about cleaning up after a disaster, but also about establishing a healthy company culture. Judy Smith , renowned crisis management expert, joins Azeem Azhar to explore why large tech companies seem to stumble into crises as they mature, and what every founder can do to avoid catastrophic reputation damage. They also discuss: Why corporate culture is the most important element of good reputation management. How to navigate a crisis while focusing on growth. How to co...
Feb 12, 2020•32 min•Ep. 14
Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith , argues for multilateral cooperation across borders and sectors in order to advance the regulatory framework for technology companies. In this conversation, he joins Azeem Azhar to discuss: Why regulation is necessary to advance innovation. How to maintain greater purpose at a company’s core while scaling. Why employees organizing is a positive force in every company. The case against the facial recognition ban. Further reading: “ Tools and Weapons: The Promise...
Feb 05, 2020•36 min•Ep. 13
Artificial decision-making machines have been with us for hundreds of years. We call them corporations and states, and they have hugely accelerated the development of our societies. That’s the argument David Runciman makes in conversation with Azeem Azhar in this week’s episode. Runciman is professor of politics at Cambridge University and host of the “Talking Politics” podcast. He and Azeem discuss what this reframing of artificial intelligence can teach us about navigating the hurdles it prese...
Jan 22, 2020•39 min
Seedcamp has backed close to 400 European startups at the seed stage. The fund’s co-founder and managing partner Reshma Sohoni joins Azeem Azhar to discuss what it takes to build a thriving startup ecosystem outside Silicon Valley, and how some of Europe’s most successful startups were created. In this episode, they also discuss: The “next big thing” from an investor’s perspective. How regulators use “sandboxes” to help entrepreneurs innovate. How the cultural diversity of Europe benefits both i...
Dec 18, 2019•34 min•Ep. 12
Nanotechnology has long been hailed as a means of eradicating diseases and delivering other healthcare solutions. University of Oxford professor Sonia Contera , a nanotechnology pioneer, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how scientific and technological developments in her field are bringing about another tech revolution that will change our lives. In this podcast, they also discuss: Which nanotechnology applications are already available in healthcare and materials engineering. How machine learning ...
Dec 11, 2019•32 min•Ep. 11
AI is reshaping the landscape of cyber defense. As new security fissures open up, threat analysts deploy more powerful tools to prevent and respond to attacks. Nicole Eagan , CEO of Darktrace, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the escalating arms race in this new cybersecurity landscape. In this podcast, they also discuss: What security experts can learn from the human immune system response. Why trust in automated decision-making technology is a crucial step in implementing AI-first security systems...
Dec 04, 2019•27 min•Ep. 10
For the first time in history, we have to tackle a truly global problem: climate breakdown. Energy transition away from fossil fuels is imperative, but there is no consensus on how to achieve this. The preeminent expert on energy history and development, Vaclav Smil , joins Azeem Azhar to explore the limits of renewables, the consequences of megacities, and why waste reduction is a game-changer. In this podcast, they also discuss: Whether the massive amounts of information we gather today has pu...
Nov 27, 2019•36 min•Ep. 9
In November 2018 mass protests by Google workers drew attention to deep problems with bias and discrimination at some of the largest Silicon Valley companies. Meredith Whittaker , co-director of the AI Now Institute and one of the organizers of the Google Walkout, joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how technology workers can influence progress in culture and technology. In this podcast, they also discuss: How discriminatory culture influences the values embedded in AI. Whether ethics officers can actu...
Nov 20, 2019•31 min•Ep. 8
The nature of work is undergoing tremendous changes, influenced by aging populations, the digital revolution, and a paradigm shift away from Fordism. Laetitia Vitaud , author of “ Du Labeur à l’ouvrage (From Labour to Work) ,” and Azeem Azhar discuss how the reinvention of craftsmanship is creating a new deal to ensure more equitable, sustainable, and fulfilling jobs. In this podcast, they also discuss: How Silicon Valley is bringing back the values of craftsmanship. What the single most importa...
Nov 13, 2019•36 min•Ep. 7
The late 1960s saw a revolution in public policy, as economists began to play an important role in shaping politics. On the wings of ideas popularized by Milton Friedman and other economists, the world was forever changed by free markets, dominant corporations, and stakeholder capitalism. Azeem Azhar discusses this with New York Times editorial writer and author Binyamin Appelbaum , whose recent book, “ The Economists’ Hour ,” is a deep dive into the history of ideas that formed capitalism, as w...
Nov 06, 2019•37 min•Ep. 6
Gary Marcus is well known as a deep learning critic. A neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and the author of “ Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust ,” Marcus believes that researchers need to move past deep learning in order to make true advances in machine intelligence. Marcus and Azeem Azhar discuss why, how, and when we can expect progress. In this podcast, they also discuss: What newborn ibexes can teach us about intelligence and learning. How deep learning widens the gap be...
Oct 30, 2019•36 min•Ep. 5
In our rapidly changing world, peace is increasingly fragile. The only way to ensure we keep it and foster it around the world is to educate citizens to become its resilient stewards. General Sir Richard Barrons is the former Commander of the UK’s Joint Forces Command, and he joins Azeem Azhar to discuss why the definition of warfare is changing with the development of technology and why our society’s resilience in the face of threats to peace must be founded on education. In this episode, they ...
Oct 23, 2019•39 min•Ep. 4
How do we exploit the technological revolution for green growth and global development? Celebrated economist, author, and scholar, Carlota Perez joins Azeem Azhar to discuss the nature of techno-economic paradigm shifts and current progress in the cycle of technological revolution. Perez is the author of one of the most influential books on the subject, “ Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital .” In this podcast, Carlota and Azeem also discuss: The new welfare state. How universal basic...
Oct 16, 2019•39 min•Ep. 3
