AI and the Future of Work

Chris Caren, CEO of Turnitin since 2009, has played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a plagiarism prevention tool to a comprehensive education technology platform that promotes academic integrity, streamlines grading, and enhances educational outcomes. Under his leadership, Turnitin was acquired by Advanced Publications in 2019 for $1.75 billion. Prior to Turnitin, Chris was General Manager of Business Solutions at Microsoft. He holds an MBA with distinction from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Engineering from Stanford and regularly contributes to CNBC and other media outlets.

 In this conversation, we discuss:

• How a childhood introduction to computers and a background in science set the stage for a career in software.
• The journey from Microsoft to Turnitin and the decision to focus on meaningful industries like education.
• Insights into leadership, including the importance of team cultural fit and the power of delegation.
• Navigating the challenges of taking over from company founders while maintaining and respecting the company culture.
• How AI is transforming the educational landscape and Turnitin's evolving role in addressing student misconduct with AI tools.
• The complex relationship between higher education and AI, balancing the need for students to learn writing and critical thinking with the demand for AI literacy in the workforce.

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On finding work you love

Vijay is the co-founder and CEO of Pindrop, a leader in voice security technology. With a background in engineering and research roles at Google, Siemens, IBM Research, and Intel, Vijay invented phone printing technology in 2010 and launched Pindrop in 2011. Under his leadership, Pindrop has raised over $200 million from investors, including JC2 Ventures, led by by Cisco's John Chambers. Holding multiple patents in VoIP security and scalability, Vijay frequently speaks at major conferences such as RSA, Black Hat, and CCS. He earned his PhD in computer science from Georgia Tech.

In this conversation, we discuss:

1. The evolution of voice technology from landline telephony to modern voice systems.
2. The challenges of educating people about voice security and deepfake threats in the early 2010s.
3. How the rise of Alexa and other voice assistants transformed public perception of voice technology.
4. The rapid development of voice cloning tools and their implications for security.
5. The role of deepfakes in political interference, including high-profile cases President Biden.
6. How companies like Pindrop are using AI to detect and combat voice-related deepfake attacks in real-time.

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How AI is reinventing networking with Cisco's Dr. JP Vasseur

William Osman is a prominent tech creator and inventive mayhem conjurer on YouTube, with over 3 million followers and nearly 200 videos that have collectively amassed over half a billion views.

As the mastermind behind Open Sauce, a major creator community event that drew over 20,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors, and 150 celebrity creators, William has significantly impacted the tech and creator landscape. His engaging content, known for its bold experiments and Francis Ford Coppola-like editing, includes fan favorites such as "How Many Parts Can You Take Off a Car?" and "Can a Rented Raccoon Simulate Fatherhood?" William is also the cohost of the Safety Third podcast, with over a hundred episodes. He holds a BS in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Cal State Northridge. We’re thrilled to have him on AI and the Future of Work to discuss his unique journey and insights.

Topics in this episode --

• Exploring Early YouTube: In this conversation, we discuss the evolution of YouTube and content creation from its early days, reflecting on how the tools and community have changed over the years.
• From Engineering to Entertainment: We delve into the guest's journey from making simple, personal videos to integrating engineering with entertainment, and how this unique blend led to their success on YouTube.
• Challenges of Early Content Creation: The guest shares insights on the early challenges of making videos, including the limited tools available in 2008 and the lack of a robust creator community.
• The Role of Storytelling in Videos: We discuss the shift from focusing solely on technical aspects of video production to emphasizing storytelling, and how this transition impacted the guest’s content and audience engagement.
• The Impact of Open Sauce: The guest reflects on the vision behind Open Sauce, an event celebrating nerd culture and the maker community, and how it represents a sociological shift in connecting like-minded individuals.
• Creative Process Insights: We dive into the guest's creative process, exploring how they generate ideas, choose which projects to pursue, and how they use engineering problems to drive compelling narratives in their videos.

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An episode you might like about extending life with AI

Pankaj Kedia has been a trailblazer across laptop PC,  smartphone, and wearable products, having held leadership roles at Intel and Qualcomm over the last 3 decades. Now an active AI investor, advisor, mentor, and speaker, Pankaj founded 2468 Ventures in 2021 and has since made angel investments in such notable AI companies as Anthropic, Athena, Figure, Groq, and OpenAI. Recently appointed as the Chief AI Officer and board member at Biossmann, a Mexican healthcare solutions company, Pankaj brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the AI space. He holds engineering degrees from IIT Roorkee and the University of Michigan, along with an MBA from Wharton.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The journey of transitioning from early AI work in the 1980s to becoming a key player in the wearable revolution.
• Leadership lessons learned from working with iconic leaders like Andy Grove at Intel and Irwin Jacobs at Qualcomm.
• The evolution of wearable technology and its role in augmenting human capabilities through AI.
• The ethical implications and potential risks associated with the integration of AI in wearable devices.
• Insights into the mindset and qualities of successful AI entrepreneurs and the criteria for investing in disruptive technologies.
• Predictions about the future of work, the rise of AGI, and the shift towards an age of abundance where work becomes a choice rather than a necessity.

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Babak Hodjat, co-inventor of Siri, on AI and the Future of Work

Josh Allan Dykstra is a polymath and TEDx speaker who has made significant contributions as a published author, musician, and CEO. As a sought-after coach on the future of work, Josh has collaborated with industry giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Chanel. He founded The Work Revolution, an organization dedicated to creating energy-based workplaces where teams can thrive, believing that work life can be a source of positivity. Josh is also the author of "Igniting the Invisible Tribe," and his boundless energy and innovative approach have inspired many to rethink their work and lives.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Josh's journey from a classically trained musician to becoming a leading voice in the future of work.
• We explore the pivotal moment that led Josh to shift his focus from music to transforming the workplace.
• Josh shares his vision for an energy-based work system that empowers employees rather than draining them.
• The concept of a work revolution and what it means to completely turn around traditional work systems.
• Josh’s belief that work can be a force for healing the world, even amid global challenges.
• The potential of AI in the workplace and how leaders can prepare for the future while prioritizing human well-being.

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Josh Bersin, HRTech pioneer, on the future of AI at work

Nick Mehta is the legendary CEO of Gainsight, a leading company in the customer success space, where he's played a pivotal role for over 11 years, growing it into a powerhouse with over 20,000 customers and $100 million in ARR. Before Gainsight, Nick was a serial entrepreneur, having led LiveOffice until its acquisition by Symantec, and co-founded Chipshot in the '90s. He holds a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a master's in Computer Science from Harvard. Beyond his professional achievements, Nick is a multi-talented individual, known for his popular blog "Metaphysical Musings," where he shares his love for Taylor Swift with nearly 27,000 subscribers. He's also a rapper, an OG shoe dog, and a YouTube celebrity with over 50 parody videos to his name.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The impact of AI on job security and how it will change the future of work, especially in the context of SaaS and customer success.
• The concept of "human-first AI" and how companies can leverage AI to remove grunt work while enhancing the human elements of customer interactions.
• The importance of building strong company culture, focusing on authenticity, transparency, and empathy as key drivers of employee engagement and satisfaction.
• The balance between the excitement and anxiety surrounding AI adoption, highlighting both the potential benefits and the challenges it poses to knowledge workers.
• Insights into how Gainsight has evolved over the years, with a particular emphasis on customer lifetime value and the importance of proactive customer success management.
• The role of leadership in maintaining company values, the importance of vulnerability and openness, and the unique ways Gainsight fosters a sense of community among its employees.

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AI fun fact article

An episode you might like about extending life with email

Silvio Savarese is a pioneer and AI research lead with the AI research team at Salesforce, one of the largest and most influential enterprise software companies globally. Before joining Salesforce in 2021 as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist, Silvio spent nearly 11 years in academia at Stanford, where his research focused on robotics, machine learning, and language models. At Salesforce, his team has developed AI tools like CodeGen, which assists with coding using conversational AI, and Merlion, which enhances system availability by detecting potential failures through time series intelligence. Silvio's team is also working on conversational AI for personalized summaries. He is a strong advocate for practicing AI responsibly, contributing to Salesforce's advocacy on AI trust, safety, privacy, and security.

In this conversation:

• Silvio's journey from academia to industry and the challenges he faced during this transition.
• We explore the differences between working in academia and leading an AI research team at Salesforce.
• Silvio shares insights on how his background in robotics informs his current work with AI for enterprise software.
• We delve into the ethical considerations and responsible practices in AI development at Salesforce.
• Silvio explains the three pillars of AI research at Salesforce: foundational research, product incubation, and product innovation.
• We examine the trade-offs between using large language models versus smaller models in AI applications, including their environmental impact and potential risks.

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An episode you might like about extending life with AI

Armen Berjikly is a serial entrepreneur and the recently appointed CTO at BetterUp, a human transformation platform founded in 2013 that employs over 3,000 coaches to help individuals achieve greater clarity, purpose, and passion through expert guidance. Before joining BetterUp, Armen co-founded Motive, which was later acquired by BetterUp, and Kenjoya, acquired by Ultimate Software. He holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a master's degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The evolution of technology and its impact on the workplace over the past two decades.
• How Armen's early research at Stanford with professors Clifford Nass and Byron Reeves influenced his career.
• The development of Experience Project and its role in connecting people through shared experiences and emotions.
• The journey of Armen's companies, Kenjoya and Motive, and their contributions to understanding and improving employee experiences.
• Armen's insights on integrating AI with human interaction to enhance emotional intelligence in technology.
• The unique approach BetterUp takes in combining coaching, technology, and research to drive human transformation and organizational success.

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An episode you might like about extending life with AI

Thomas Otter joined Acadian Ventures in March 2022 as a General Partner. Prior to Acadian, he advised companies such as Workday, Ultimate Software, Personio, and Unit 4, and collaborated with private equity and growth equity firms like Warburg Pincus, Scottish Equity Partners, PSG, and Goldman Sachs on M&A, strategy, negotiations, and diligence. He previously led the product management organization at SAP SuccessFactors, scaling it to over a billion dollars in annual recurring revenue, and served as a Research Vice President at Gartner Group, leading HR tech research. Thomas holds a Doctorate from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and the Strategy and Innovation Diploma from Oxford. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society. . A regular guest lecturer at various universities, Thomas grew up in South Africa and now resides in Heidelberg, Germany. He is also a collector of vinyl records and a lover of great music.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How a chance encounter led to a 30-year career in HR technology.
• The evolution of HR technology from the mainframe era to modern cloud-based systems.
• The intersection of ethics, compliance, and technology within HR.
• The strategic importance of HR in today's business landscape and its impact on the employee experience.
• The role of technology in automating administrative tasks to enhance employee satisfaction.
• Historical milestones in HR tech, including the first business application of a computer for payroll.

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An episode you might like about using AI to get ahead in your career 

Bernard Marr is a world-renowned futurist, influencer, and thought leader in the fields of business and technology. With a passion for leveraging technology for the good of humanity, Bernard is a bestselling author of over 20 books, writes a regular column for Forbes, and advises and coaches many of the world’s best-known organizations. Boasting a combined following of 4 million people across social media channels and newsletters, Bernard was ranked by LinkedIn as one of the top five business influencers globally. His latest books include "Future Skills," "The Future Internet: Business Trends and Practice," and "Generative AI in Practice." 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Bernard’s journey into the AI and technology space, from his academic background to his consulting and writing career.
• The evolution of the AI landscape, from analytics and big data to modern AI applications and trends.
• How Bernard simplifies complex technical topics for a mainstream audience in his books and writings.
• Insights from Bernard's latest book, "Generative AI in Practice," and what readers can expect to learn from it.
• The role of AI in business decision-making and strategy, based on Bernard's extensive consulting experience.
• The ethical considerations and societal impacts of AI advancements, and how they shape the future of work.

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An episode you might like about the future of audio engineering