April 11, 2025

Ep 62: The Transformative Impact of Voice-based AI with Scott Stephenson

53 minutes

Bob Pulver speaks with Scott Stephenson, CEO and co-founder of Deepgram AI, about the intersection of voice technology and artificial intelligence. Scott shares his unique journey from particle physics to founding Deepgram, a voice AI platform that enables businesses to integrate voice capabilities into their applications. The conversation explores the technological advancements in voice AI, its applications in various industries, particularly in recruitment, and the future of AI in enhancing human interactions. Scott discusses the importance of deep expertise in technologies like PyTorch, the need for human oversight in AI, and the unique culture at Deepgram that values curiosity and learning. He emphasizes the significance of voice communication in the future and the competitive landscape of AI globally, advocating for increased investment in research and development to maintain leadership in the field.

Keywords

Deepgram, AI, voice technology, recruitment, machine learning, audio processing, talent acquisition, voice agents, PyTorch, company culture, human oversight, curiosity, global AI landscape, research and development, technology

Takeaways

Deepgram is a voice AI platform that powers myriad applications.

Scott transitioned from a career in particle physics to AI.

The founding of Deepgram was inspired by the need for audio processing technology.

AI can significantly enhance the recruitment process by automating initial conversations.

Voice agents can provide a seamless customer experience in various settings.

The accuracy and speed of AI models are crucial for their effectiveness.

AI can help companies scale their recruitment efforts efficiently.

Transparency in AI interactions is important for user acceptance.

The future of AI in hiring will involve more personalized and interactive experiences.

Deep conversations reveal true understanding and capability.

Human oversight is crucial in AI governance.

Company culture should prioritize curiosity and learning.

Deepgram's mission is to increase global productivity through audio.

Voice communication is set to grow significantly in the coming years.

The global AI landscape is competitive, with varying approaches in different regions.

Investing in basic research is essential for future innovation.

The best ideas should come from anywhere within the organization.

Everyone in a company should think like a manager in the AI era.

Sound Bites

"The best ideas win."

"Curiosity is the top sign for Deepgram."

"Deepgram is an intelligence company."

"We're a learning company."

"Communication is going to be key."

"This is the intelligence revolution."

"We need to invest in basic research."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Deepgram AI and Scott's Background

05:52 Transition from Physics to AI and Deepgram's Founding

12:01 Deepgram's Technology and Applications in Voice AI

17:58 AI in Recruitment: Transforming Talent Acquisition

24:00 The Future of AI in Conversations and Hiring Processes

26:02 Understanding PyTorch Expertise

28:10 The Importance of Human Oversight in AI

29:01 Company Culture and Human-Centric Approaches

30:19 Curiosity as a Core Value at Deepgram

32:14 Deepgram's Mission and Organizational Structure

34:55 The Future of Voice Communication

37:28 The Evolution of Communication Methods

39:46 The Global AI Landscape and Competition

52:24 Investing in AI Research and Development

Scott Stephenson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stephenson-

Deepgram: https://deepgram.com/

For advisory work and marketing inquiries:

Bob Pulver: https://linkedin.com/in/bobpulver

Elevate Your AIQ: https://elevateyouraiq.com

Thanks to Warden AI (https://warden-ai.com) for their sponsorship and support of the show! Warden is an AI assurance platform for HR technology to demonstrate AI-powered solutions are fair, compliant and trustworthy.

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