Ctrl + Alt + Human

In this episode of CTRL + ALT + HUMAN we dive deep with Alex Konrad , founder & editor of Upstarts Media, on the AI bubble, how leaders are "refounding” businesses with AI, and what leaders in physical industries can learn from startup reinvention.

🎙️ Follow Alex on X: @alexrkonrad
📰 Subscribe to Upstarts: Upstarts on Substack (substack.com)

Bassem and Ellis are back from a busy summer and share some revelations on the ins and outs of building tech companies in the AI era. Plus, a look at a few companies that have navigated the new tech landscape well and others that have missed the boat.

In this episode, Bassem and Ellis considers how the new American Pope will navigate an AI-driven society. They also talk about the importance of Google's Search business and why ads in ChatGPT are a really, really bad idea.

In this episode, Bassem and Ellis discuss the latest on the tariff saga, how tariffs may impact innovation, and ask the question "what really is knowledge work?"

In this episode, Bassem and Ellis discuss the struggles of Roomba and the implications of interest rates on the economy. They also unpack the challenges faced by companies like Nvidia, the role of generative AI in entertainment, and the ongoing debate over copyright issues. The conversation also touches on the importance of critical thinking in the age of AI and the potential for technology to enhance or diminish our intelligence.

In this episode, we talk about the challenge of growth in an era of tariffs, and explore the impact this world may have on the tech sector.

Chapters

00:00 The Role of Media in Economic Discussions

01:20 Tariffs: Protectionism vs. Taxation

04:33 Long-term Effects of Tariffs on Global Supply Chains

12:35 The Impact of Protectionism on Domestic Production

14:52 Challenges in Labor and Automation

15:40 The Overlooked Tech Industry

17:36 Tariffs and Economic Growth

20:02 The Future of Innovation and Economic Realignment

22:53 The Role of AI in Economic Growth

24:52 The Importance of R&D Investment

28:56 The Future of Work and Technology

35:15 Leapfrogging in Manufacturing

40:01 Concluding Thoughts on Tariffs and Innovation

42:29 New Chapter

The holy grail of AI is its ability to predict, but how close are we actually from realizing that goal? Bassem and Ellis discuss why predictive AI is difficult, and how the healthcare space may be the first industry that breaks through.

Bassem and Ellis discuss Elon Musk's bid for OpenAI, DOGE efforts to use more AI, and the power of using tech to recruit talent to the public sector.

Welcome to Control, Alt, Human – a podcast that explores how we can thoughtfully redefine our relationship with AI in an era of unprecedented technological change.

In each episode, we'll dive deep into the stories making waves across politics, finance, and technology. But instead of getting caught up in the hype or fear, we're here to help you develop a more nuanced perspective.

We'll explore how AI is transforming our world not as a force that controls us, but as a powerful tool that we, as humans, can learn to work with and shape.