Possible - podcast cover

Possible

Reid Hoffmanwww.possible.fm
What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Lastly, between guest episodes, Aria interviews her co-host Reid on his latest takes on what’s possible if we use technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Episodes

Devshi Mehrotra on AI, justice, and public defense

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 enhan...

Nov 13, 202450 minSeason 3Ep. 29

Reid riffs on Bill Gates and promising technology developments

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/

Nov 06, 20249 minSeason 3Ep. 28

Feed Drop: Reid Hoffman: Entrepreneurship, AI, and the Battle for Democracy

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. Discove...

Nov 05, 202434 min

Feed Drop: Masters of Scale: President Bill Clinton in conversation with Reid Hoffman

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 pod...

Nov 04, 202436 min

Bill Gates on possibility, AI, and humanity

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 meaningfu...

Oct 30, 20241 hr 11 minSeason 3Ep. 27

Reid riffs on iterative development and cultural differences

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/

Oct 23, 202414 minSeason 3Ep. 26

James Manyika on global AI and inclusion

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....

Oct 16, 202447 minSeason 3Ep. 25

Reid riffs on the next generation of LLMs

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/

Oct 09, 202412 minSeason 3Ep. 24

Sean White on Inflection and AI frontiers

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 intell...

Oct 02, 202442 minSeason 3Ep. 23

Reid riffs on Silicon Valley, politics, and the election

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/

Sep 25, 202417 minSeason 3Ep. 22

Sarah Longwell on politics, AI, and elections

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 gro...

Sep 18, 20241 hr 12 minSeason 3Ep. 21

Reid riffs on his personal history with AI

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/

Sep 11, 202411 minSeason 3Ep. 20

Daphne Koller on drug discovery and AI

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 fro...

Sep 04, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 3Ep. 19

Reid riffs on the future of human connectivity

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

Aug 28, 202410 minSeason 3Ep. 18

Nick Thompson on our AI future

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/pod...

Aug 21, 202454 minSeason 3Ep. 17

Reid riffs on AI regulation

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/

Aug 14, 202414 minSeason 3Ep. 16

Gina Raimondo on AI, government, and commerce

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 A...

Aug 07, 202434 minSeason 3Ep. 15

Reid riffs on AI agents and investments

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/

Jul 31, 202415 minSeason 3Ep. 14

Ashton Kutcher on AI and investing

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 transc...

Jul 24, 202442 minSeason 3Ep. 13

Reid riffs on building better cities

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/

Jul 17, 202411 minSeason 3Ep. 12

Devon Zuegel on the future of cities and community

What if we built cities focused around community, leveraging technology to actually increase human connection, health, and fulfillment? Devon Zuegel, the leader of Edge Esmeralda—a pop-up village that took place in June 2024—joins Possible to discuss how she is reimagining cities to optimize for community. In this episode, Devon, Aria, and Reid get into why designing cities with intention can impact quality of life and strengthen communities. Devon shares what she has learned from Edge Esmeralda...

Jul 10, 202453 minSeason 3Ep. 11

Reid riffs on California Forever and housing

Reid talks about why he invested in California Forever, the ambitious sustainable city project in Solano County, California. He contends with some of the concerns that have been raised about the initiative and states his case for the best way to fix the affordable housing crisis. The answer just might be surprisingly simple. Aria also asks Reid about exciting sustainability projects that aren’t getting the attention they deserve. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, ...

Jul 03, 202414 minSeason 3Ep. 10

Jan Sramek on California Forever and the future of cities

What if we could build the ideal sustainable city from scratch? This week’s guest is aiming to do that, and he has unique insight into what making that dream a reality can look like. Jan Sramek is the founder of California Forever, a company aiming to build an affordable, urban community in Solano County, California. Reid—an investor in California Forever—and Aria sat down with Jan to talk about the vision for the city, where it draws inspiration from, and some of the controversy that has sprung...

Jun 26, 202453 minSeason 3Ep. 9

Reid riffs on going from idea to launch

In this episode, Aria asks Reid about the path from idea to execution—and Reid draws from LinkedIn to share his launch lessons. Plus, Reid predicts how AI will—and won’t—impact food, dining, and restaurants. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Jun 19, 202412 minSeason 3Ep. 8

Massimo Bottura on the future of food and creativity

What role might artificial intelligence play in making the perfect meal? How will AI transform food creation—and creation more generally? Massimo Bottura—legendary Italian chef and entrepreneur—joins Possible to talk about the future of food, human creativity, and how technology factors in. Massimo, Aria, and Reid discuss the roles of joy and innovation in fine dining, technology’s potential to enhance human connection, and Food For Soul, the nonprofit Massimo and his wife Lara created to turn s...

Jun 12, 202448 minSeason 3Ep. 7

Reid riffs on coding and K-12 education

What will being a software engineer look like in the future, when the predominant coding language is English—or whatever language you speak—instead of JavaScript? In this episode, Reid reflects on his own education, including the value of studying philosophy. Plus, he shares what he’d prioritize in designing kids' classroom experiences today and gets into AI’s potential to help customize lessons to align with students’ curiosities and learning styles. For more info on the podcast and transcripts...

Jun 05, 202412 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Pat Yongpradit on AI literacy and computer science education

What does AI literacy mean for students and their teachers? Code.org Chief Academic Officer Pat Yongpradit—himself a former middle school computer science teacher—joins Reid and Aria for the first-ever live-taping of Possible, recorded at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego. In this episode, they discuss why school-wide bans on AI are a terrible idea and what “always be learning” refers to in an age of AI. Plus, Pat unveils, for the first time publicly, Code.org’s newest tool for teachers: an AI ass...

May 29, 202450 minSeason 3Ep. 5

BONUS: Reid Hoffman’s speech: Humanity’s Hegelian Golden Braid

What should we keep in mind as we venture into this new AI era? Reid Hoffman delivers a speech, entitled Humanity’s Hegelian Golden Braid, to address this question. The speech offers six guiding maxims related to AI, humanity, and technology—and weaves through Hegel and Hofstadter, cathedrals and griffins, T.S. Elliot and Hyman Minsky, and more. This speech was originally given by Reid Hoffman in English on May 24, 2024 after accepting an honorary doctorate from the University of Perugia. It’s a...

May 24, 202432 min

Reid riffs on tech journalism and the TikTok ban

In this episode, Aria asks Reid about the roles and responsibilities of technology journalists, along with his thoughts on the TikTok ban (recorded before President Biden signed the TikTok Ban bill into law). For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

May 22, 202415 minSeason 3Ep. 4

Feed Drop: On with Kara Swisher: Reid Hoffman talks Trump, Thiel & AI

Alongside this week’s riff from Reid on tech journalism and last week’s episode with Kara Swisher, we’re bringing you a conversation between Reid and Kara that originally dropped as a March 2023 episode of “On with Kara Swisher.” This duo has known each other since the 90s, when Reid was fresh off the sale of PayPal and before he co-founded LinkedIn. On this episode, they discuss Reid’s donations to Biden and other Democrats, how his political views have impacted his friendships with Peter Thiel...

May 22, 202443 min
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