Episodes

  • Reid and AIs riff on what could go right with AI

    Reid and AIs riff on what could go right with AI
    Feb 5 2025
    This week, we're bringing you the introduction of Reid’s new book, Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, which he co-wrote with last week’s Possible guest, Greg Beato. The Superagency audiobook is narrated by voice actor Scott Wallace and converted with Respeecher to Reid’s AI voice. Plus, hear what happens when Reid and Aria load Superagency’s introduction into Google’s NotebookLM and turn the final minutes of the episode over to two AI co-hosts. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ For more on Superagency, check out superagency.ai.
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    30 mins
  • Greg Beato on superagency, AI, and the cognitive industrial revolution

    Greg Beato on superagency, AI, and the cognitive industrial revolution
    Jan 29 2025
    In an age of increasingly ubiquitous AI, how do we maintain control of our lives and successfully plot our own destinies? In this episode, Reid is in the hotseat alongside writer Greg Beato, discussing this and more in the context of their new book, Superagency. Greg is a seasoned journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Wired, The Washington Post, Reason, Spin, and Slate, to name a few. He and Reid delve into what could possibly go right with our AI future; the cognitive industrial revolution; and the difference between AI Doomers, Gloomers, Zoomers, and Bloomers. Plus, Reid’s AI avatar makes a cameo to join for a few rounds of the game “Overrated/Underrated.” For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ For more on Superagency, check out superagency.ai. Topics: 2:04 - Overrated/Underrated Round I 5:02 - Why Reid chose Greg as his co-author 6:01 - Why Greg wanted to write this book 8:19 - Why Reid chose this book topic at this particular time 11:21 - How the rise of AI is similar to the rise of social media 16:36 - Agency, superagency, and AI 19:59 - Overrated/Underrated Round II 23:28 - Defining AI Doomers, Gloomers, Zoomers, and Bloomers 28:46 - How AI amplifies agency 32:16 - How ChatGPT shifted people’s relationship with AI 37:21 - Choosing AI vs. AI being baked into technologies 39:28 - Speed and scale in the current AI moment 44:37 - How innovation and safety can coexist 48:49 - 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.
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    58 mins
  • Bret Taylor on conversational AI, voice, and agents

    Bret Taylor on conversational AI, voice, and agents
    Jan 22 2025
    What new kinds of jobs will AI bring that we never could have imagined before? In this special two-part episode, Reid and Aria explore this question and more with Sierra co-founder and OpenAI chairperson Bret Taylor. Part one features audio from Bret's onstage interview at the 2024 Masters of Scale Summit, where he shared his insights on the voice revolution in AI, the technology’s latest role as a phone customer service agent, and the groundbreaking business opportunities still waiting to be explored in the AI space. Reid and Aria invited Bret to continue the conversation in part two, diving deeper into how AI might reshape our workforce, create new career opportunities, and spark industries we haven’t yet imagined. With leadership experience at both startups (Quip and Friendfeed) and large tech companies (Facebook, Salesforce, and Twitter), Bret is uniquely positioned to track and seize opportunities in the quickly-developing AI industry. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ Topics: 00:57 - Episode introduction 02:02 - What Bret sees in AI 06:00 - Most exciting upcoming AI breakthrough 08:40 - The three main areas of AI innovation 09:41 - What is the AI voice revolution? 14:07 - First steps in AI customer service 18:15 - Role of entrepreneurs in AI development 22:52 - Parenting and AI 27:48 - Understanding AI inflection points 31:28 - AI as the new dot com market 34:21 - Is the AI market already full? 37:50 - More on the AI voice revolution 45:06 - Predicting how AI will change the world 53:57 - What people are missing about AI 58:29 - Superagency opportunities 1:00:14 - 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.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Fei-Fei Li on spatial intelligence and human-centered AI

    Fei-Fei Li on spatial intelligence and human-centered AI
    Jan 15 2025
    How can we use AI to amplify human potential and build a better future? And what exactly does “AGI” even mean? To kick off Possible’s fourth season, Reid and Aria sit down with world-renowned computer scientist Fei-Fei Li, whose work in artificial intelligence over the past several decades has earned her the nickname “the godmother of AI.” An entrepreneur and professor, Fei-Fei shares her journey from creating ImageNet, a massive dataset of labeled images that revolutionized computer vision, to her current role as co-founder and CEO of the spatial intelligence startup World Labs. She explains why spatial intelligence—the ability to perceive and interact with the 3D world—is so crucial for AI's development and how it could lead to breakthroughs in fields like medicine, climate, and education. They get into regulatory guardrails, governance, and what it will take to build a positive, human-centered AI future for all. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ Topics: 1:55 - Hellos and intros 3:43 - ImageNet and the interplay between data and models 6:06 - World Labs and spatial intelligence 10:03 - Boundaries between 3D physical and digital worlds 11:50 - The difference between LLMs and LWMs 13:02 - What humans are capable of creating with technology 14:04 - Key principles of AI: human agency and respect 17:16 - Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI 19:13 - What this moment in AI means for humanity 21:06 - Cross-sector collaboration 25:10 - AI4ALL program and the importance of diversity in AI development 27:00 - Midroll ad break 27:09 - Using AI to improve healthcare delivery and treatment 30:20 - Founding history of AI and the meaning of the term “AGI” 33:00 - Future of agentic AI and voice 34:42 - Fei-Fei’s mentor and his advice 37:18 - 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.
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    44 mins
  • PRESENTING: Pioneers of AI with Dr. Rana El Kaliouby and Musician Taryn Southern

    PRESENTING: Pioneers of AI with Dr. Rana El Kaliouby and Musician Taryn Southern
    Dec 25 2024
    Pioneers of AI is your weekly guide to the AI frontier. Each week, host Dr. Rana el Kaliouby (AI scientist, investor, author, co-founder of Affectiva) is joined by the leading creators, critics, and thinkers behind mind-blowing technology and asks the important questions about how artificial intelligence is changing the way we live. In this episode: Creating and sharing art is a uniquely human experience. With the rise of AI, creative processes are shifting, but Taryn Southern doesn’t think that means art becomes any less human. As a storyteller and technologist, Southern uses AI to push the limits of her creativity. She also works to help fellow artists and everyday people embrace the potential of AI. Southern joins Pioneers of AI to talk about what partnering with AI to make art looks like, how she assembled a team of chatbots to create a festival trailer, and what it was like making the first album co-written by AI. Learn more about Pioneers of AI: http://pioneersof.ai/
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    37 mins
  • Artful Intelligence | Ep 3: Paul Trillo on Music Video x AI

    Artful Intelligence | Ep 3: Paul Trillo on Music Video x AI
    Dec 18 2024
    What does it take to create something the world has never seen before? In this final episode of Artful Intelligence, Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore what it takes to spark a creative revolution with filmmaker Paul Trillo. Using OpenAI’s groundbreaking AI video generator, Sora, Paul directed the world’s first fully AI-generated music video. After gaining early access to Sora, Paul faced a massive creative challenge: How could he use an AI tool known for surreal, dream-like visuals to craft a music video that felt emotionally real? The answer came from embracing AI’s quirks—its strange hallucinations, its unpredictable transformations—and writing prompts like poetic scripts to guide the machine’s creative output. Join us as Paul reveals how he turned an experimental AI model into an award-winning music video—and how creators everywhere can harness emerging tech to redefine what’s possible in art. Time Stamps: Part 1: To Create a Paradigm Shift with AI, Lean Into Its Constraints 07:25 - Paul Trillo discovers OpenAI’s AI video generator, Sora 09:46 - Navigating early uncertainty about AI’s impact on filmmaking 12:09 - Directing under creative constraints during COVID with The Shins’ “The Great Divide” 16:57 - Making emotionally resonant art despite technological limits 19:09 - Reid: What advice would you give someone running into constraints with AI tools? Part 2: Paradigm Shifts Often Come from Reviving Old, Impossible Ideas 23:01 - Paul’s early experiments with Sora push AI video limits 24:34 - Resurrecting old creative concepts from his “Graveyard of Ideas” 25:59 - Inspired by Carl Sagan’s “Golden Record” and its sci-fi storytelling potential 28:49 - Creating a surreal AI-generated trailer blending historical and futuristic imagery 30:21 - Revisiting a decade-old “infinite zoom” concept for a music video 35:05 - Reid: How do paradigm shifts in AI go beyond just replicating older tech? Part 3: Excavating Right at the Edge of What’s Possible Today 37:45 - Writing “alchemy-like” prompts to guide AI’s hallucinations 40:19 - Blending AI’s surreal misremembered details into an emotional story 42:36 - Generating 700 videos and 320 minutes of AI footage for the music video 44:56 - Reid: What kind of impossible ideas might AI make possible? Links: “The Hardest Part” Music Video by Washed Out. Directed by Paul Trillo: https://vimeo.com/941713443 “The Golden Record” by Paul Trillo: https://vimeo.com/927400626 “The Great Divide” by The Shins. Directed by Paul Trillo: https://vimeo.com/461473136 Infinite Zoom in Manhattan: https://vimeo.com/paultrillo Paul Trillo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paultrillo Will Smith eating Spaghetti (example of early AI video generation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQr4Xklqzw8 Reid AI: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reidhoffman_the-nobel-prize-award-ceremony-took-place-activity-7272418124639928320-ZyMn/ Show Description: Artful Intelligence explores the thrilling intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Chris McLeod, this mini-series dives into the stories of groundbreaking artists using AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Each episode showcases how human ingenuity and machine learning collaborate to create the extraordinary. With thought-provoking contributions from Reid Hoffman, Artful Intelligence asks bold questions about the future of creativity: Can AI amplify human expression? How do we ensure it empowers rather than replaces us?
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    57 mins
  • Artful Intelligence | Ep 2: Elise Swopes on Photography x AI

    Artful Intelligence | Ep 2: Elise Swopes on Photography x AI
    Dec 11 2024
    How can you shape the future with AI to create the world you want to live in? Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore this question with Elise Swopes, a trailblazing visual artist and educator blending AI with photography. Currently an evangelist for Adobe, Elise has been a creative force since the early days of Instagram, crafting surreal visuals for brands such as Adidas, McDonald’s, Casamigos, and Sony. But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. From online harassment to personal struggles, she’s faced adversity with resilience, using her art to shape a brighter, more inclusive future. Join us as we traverse her path—while Reid reflects on AI’s evolving role in fostering creativity and meaningful human expression. Can AI ever replace human style, or will the future of art always require a human touch? Time Stamps: 02:14 - Chris McLeod intros the series Part 1: Shape Your Tools Because They Will Shape You and Your Future 07:07 - How Elise discovered AI and overcame early backlash 09:26 - Building websites and creating digital art as a kid 11:26 - Teaching creativity online and the power of sharing knowledge 17:03 - Reid: How can we foster more constructive conversations about AI? Part 2: The Right Networks Will Amplify Your Voice Without Losing It 17:13 - Using AI tools to redefine creative possibilities 19:29 - Elise’s journey from public school to creative entrepreneurship 21:26 - Brand collaborations with Nike, McDonald’s, and Casamigos 23:36 - Navigating higher education on her own terms 25:12 - Reid: What would a “better future with AI” look like for artists? Part 3: Taste and Style Are Your Competitive Advantage in Shaping the Era of AI 27:50 - How artists can shape AI’s future through experimentation 31:31 - Elise’s creative process with Adobe Firefly and AI-generated art 33:52 - Reid: Could AI make human artistic style obsolete? 41:16 - Elise reflects on personal growth and creative freedom Links: Swopes’ Website: https://www.swopes.info/ Swopes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swopes Swopes AI piece discussed in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5D0rFJOEzf/?igsh=MWgwNDU1cms1a3I2 Swopes’ TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joWNKJlf8N0 Show Description: Artful Intelligence explores the thrilling intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Chris McLeod, this mini-series dives into the stories of groundbreaking artists using AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Each episode showcases how human ingenuity and machine learning collaborate to create the extraordinary. With thought-provoking contributions from Reid Hoffman, Artful Intelligence asks bold questions about the future of creativity: Can AI amplify human expression? How do we ensure it empowers rather than replaces us?
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    49 mins
  • Introducing: Artful Intelligence | Ep 1: Malick Lombion on Hyperlapse x AI

    Introducing: Artful Intelligence | Ep 1: Malick Lombion on Hyperlapse x AI
    Dec 4 2024
    What if you could create the impossible with AI? In this debut episode of Artful Intelligence, Chris McLeod introduces us to Montreal-based filmmaker Malick Lombion, whose groundbreaking technique, Hyperlapse X AI, is redefining video art. Malick combines hyperlapse cinematography with cutting-edge AI tools like DALL-E to compress time, space, and reality into surreal and mesmerizing visuals. Malick pushed AI to its creative limits, proving that human ingenuity and machine learning can work in tandem to unlock new dimensions of art. Reid Hoffman and Chris explore what it takes to innovate at this level: the right partnerships, a willingness to fail publicly, and a commitment to going all in. Discover how Malick’s work inspired a new wave of video creators—and what it says about the future of creativity in an AI-driven world. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ Time Stamps: Introduction 00:01 – Artful Intelligence introduction. 02:36 – Chris and Reid discuss the central question: Can AI amplify human creativity? 04:08 – A brief history of cinematic breakthroughs, from Georges Méliès to hyperlapse. 08:13 – Malick explains Hyperlapse x AI. Part 1: The Right Humans Are Required 10:01 – Malick discovers DALL-E 2 and its potential for groundbreaking visuals. 10:55 – Malick teams up with Manuel Sainsily to create Hyperlapse x AI. 12:26 – A long and tedious process. 13:35 – Reid Hoffman on the value of diverse collaborators in AI innovation. Part 2: Plan on Failure in a Public Way 18:39 – Malick gets an offer to work with Insta360. 20:45 – Public experimentation on Instagram leads Malick to hyperlapse videos. 23:08 – Trial and error with a 10-foot selfie stick. 26:39 – Reid Hoffman on iterative deployment and learning from failure. Part 3: Once You Know Where You’re Going, Go All In 31:26 – Malick begins transforming his 360 footage into a Hyperlapse x AI video. 32:16 – Malick moves from Guadeloupe to Montreal, fully committing to his passion for video creation. 37:09 – Malick completes his breakthrough video. 40:33 – Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video goes viral. Outro 49:19 – Chris reflects on Malick’s journey and previews the next episode in the series. Links: Malick Lombion’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malick.fr?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video with the Insta360 camera https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiPyY1VAv6I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== An updated version of Malick’s and Manuel Sainsily’s first Hyperlapse x AI video https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChNyS6iAEA8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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    52 mins